Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Barakah unit 1 entered commercial operation today, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced. The unit, which is operated by Nawah Energy Company, has been the single largest electricity generator in the UAE since reaching 100% power in early December. ENEC said the 1400-megawatt unit, which is in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, is now providing "constant, reliable and sustainable electricity around the clock". As a result, ENEC says it is "now leading the largest decarbonisation effort of any industry in the UAE to date".

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/UAE-s-first-nuclear-unit-starts-commercial-operati

Almost every major city in the Czech Republic has a system of combined heat and power stations that are mainly fueled by coal. However, as the European Union gradually moves away from coal as an energy source, those cities are urgently looking for alternatives. While it is technologically possible to make the transition from coal to natural gas, the heat is likely to be much more expensive as a result.

Researchers at the Czech Technical University in Prague and the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen have come up with an innovative solution: the Teplator, a system which uses the radioactive decay heat produced by spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors to heat water. The team, led by Radek Skoda, has already been granted a patent for the concept and design of what it says is a very cost-effective alternative to coal and gas-powered plants.

Skoda, of the Czech Technical University, told DW that the project was particularly noteworthy because it allows power stations to generate heat from spent fuel elements that otherwise would have to be stored and cooled at great expense for many years.


https://www.dw.com/en/czech-researchers-develop-revolutionary-nuclear-heating-plant/a-57072924

San Diego-based Aptera has just unveiled a new solar-based three-wheeler it claims doesn’t require charging—but just happens to have 1,000-mile battery-electric range for good measure.

The futuristic trike, which has an almost Jetsons flying car-like aesthetic, features more than 32 square feet of solar panels that are integrated into the body. This setup allows the two-seater to travel up to 45 miles a day and up to 11,000 miles per year on energy harnessed from the sun, according to the company.


https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/aptera-new-solar-ev-can-cover-1000-miles-no-charging-1234585242/?fbclid=IwAR3Bxz_g4wLlKlH6EcjFvkan9xG2qjd8xuH_LnyM_9oA5O9BMO5FU58y_bk


https://youtu.be/HNjUdTJjiNk

How badly does the range diminish with my 265# ass in the driver's seat? 

Solar Panel Car Roofs: Are they a good idea? (solarreviews.com)

The better question is whether they're useful enough to be worth it. 

Yes, for the obvious points that article makes, a fully solar-powered car isn't practical. 

However, for a car that is powered by electricity, the sun is free. The question becomes whether the amount of electricity provided by the sun realistically makes the cost of the solar panels and associated charging electronics worth it. Every kWh that comes from the sun offsets one that comes from your power company, so the question is how long it takes to amortize the cost of the panels?

If for a typical consumer the solar panels in a car "pay for themselves" in 6 months, I'd say keep putting them on. If it's going to take 25 years, well, then it's pretty much pointless for a consumer to pay extra for them.

Looks like a gimmick to me, something that sounds good but is expensive and contributes little to a car's range, like practicably speaking maybe 5 miles.

Over what time horizon? Per day? 

If you keep an EV, say, 5 years, that's 1826.25 days. Which means that you'll have generated over 9,000 miles worth of range. 

This Car and Driver article says the average cost per mile of electricity is 5.5c. Which would put the cost of that electricity at about $500.

So if the additional cost of the panels and charging electronics in the car's design is <$500, you're coming out ahead. 

Your better off with a home PV system optimized for angle to the sun to charge your EV.  And if you have accident damage, you won't have PV damage.

True, but home PV systems have a MUCH higher acquisition cost. 

If I'm buying an EV and I have a choice between a $500 option on the EV to add solar charging, or I need to spend $10,000+ to put a solar system onto my roof, it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. 

Yeah, the C&D article used the national average. 

I agree with you in principle that solar charging on vehicles is mostly more about looking green and high-tech than it is about a good economic decision--if it was good economically you'd see it on all the new EVs coming out. It's probably a gimmick.

That said, like anything it all eventually comes down to an economic decision. If PV cell efficiency or cost improve, it will probably start to make some sense to integrate it into the vehicle. It may never be a significant amount of charge per day, but could pay for itself quickly enough with free energy from the sun to be worth it.

As I've mentioned, I'm somewhat car-committed for at least another 5+ years or so due to the kids [and dog]. The Flex guzzles gas like a pig and is the size of a rhino, but I swear the driver's seat is a La-Z-Boy... Surprisingly it handles pretty well for its heft, as it's low and wide compared to a typical SUV. 

By that point, I might be considering EV.