The abundant sunlight that hits the average vehicle’s roof has been largely untapped to this point by automakers and parts manufacturers. Sunrise Solar has filled this void by introducing an aftermarket sunroof built from solar panels. This Indiana-based manufacturer of rooftop solar panels will offer these products soon through their nationwide network of dealers.
The company’s sunroof has several applications for drivers who want to harness the power of the sun year round. Sunrise is marketing this product as a way to cut back on electrical consumption. The newly installed sunroof would be attached to the battery by an authorized installer to create a continuous solar pipeline. The reserve of solar energy built up inside of the sunroof could bolster batteries for starts on cold days.
Drivers who are accustomed to using windshield covers and other devices to keep cars cool in the summer can get some help from the Sunrise sunroof. This product absorbs a substantial amount of sunlight that would otherwise raise the temperature inside of the vehicle. Motorists who are contending with cold weather and snow get the benefit of warm air distributed between the panel and the battery.
Sunrise Solar is not the first company to try to market this type of product but they have a pedigree that is unrivaled by smaller competitors. Sunrise has been active lately in dispelling myths about solar energy through its literature and shareholder relations. The company also introduced a beta version of an online carbon offset program that may go live by the end of 2008. The highest praise for Sunrise has come from the state’s senior senator, Richard Lugar, who called the company an “energy patriot” in a speech on March 5, 2007.
The best consequence of Sunrise’s solar sunroof would be an acceleration of similar programs by automakers. Toyota’s introduction of solar panels on future versions of the Prius shows that the major manufacturers recognize the potential for passive energy. Sunrise may seem too small to make much of an impact on companies like Toyota and Honda but small manufacturers need to be leaders in the alternative energy industry. It is important for Sunrise and other companies to continue marketing products like aftermarket sunroofs to break through the cloud of old ideas still surrounding stalwart automakers.
I love this! I think that is the way to even increase power for electric vehicles. I also think that there might be a way of installing some sort of device to harvest energy from the wind that is produced by the car in movement. Anything is possible. I believe that using solar and wind power, eventually we might use only 1 gallon of gas per 1000 miles.
I think that this is a great idea. I hope that something like this goes over. I cannot see how it wouldn’t. I wonder how much it would cost to put in?
What a GREAT idea. The amount of heat that the sun provides on our cars are phenomenal. It’s about time somebody decided to harness this energy for our cars.
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Hello.Forgive me but my english is not nice.anyway i really intend to say i like this post a lot. thanx