» A Sunny Forecast for Greener Transportation » Ningin

I’ve got one too many turbos in my car to be seen as eco-friendly, but even punk drivers like me feel the burn on their wallets at the gas station. The energy crisis is affecting everyone, and while gas prices are somewhat subsidized by the government in China, there will come a time when our oil wells dry up. As China is poised to take over the US as the largest consumer of oil, the race for alternative energy is now hotter than a bowl of bi bim bap swimming in Blair’s 16 Million.

One of the more interesting eco-developments in recent months is this solar-powered twinkie from China’s Hangzhou-based Zhejiang 001 Group, which looks something like a Chery QQ with a roof rack mounted with solar panels. With a list price of 38,000 RMB (currently 5,560 USD, will likely be double that by the time this post is published) and a reported conversion efficiency of 14% to 17% (about the same as other solar-powered cars), there’s some promise to this little tooter, especially considering its 150 kilometer (93 mile) range on 30 hours of charge.

Another sunny proposition looks to replace a staple of the Indian metropolis - launched this month in New Delhi, the soleckshaw is a motorized solar-charged cycle rickshaw that allows the driver to pedal or chug along using the installed solar battery. With a top speed of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) per hour and a range of 50-70 kilometers (30-42 miles), the battery can be replaced at a central charging station for just a small fee. Current cycle rickshaws require no less than someone like Floyd Landis to pedal, and auto rickshaws are a large source of carbon emissions; not to mention this new one comes standard with FM radio and power ports for charging cell phones. While it’s still a far cry from SolarLab’s futuristic solar rickshaw set to launch next year, it’s definitely a pedal in the right direction!