Solar power is something that can be found
in many areas of life today. From homes and businesses to cars and even
heavy-duty trucks used in the transport industry, you can find solar power in
every direction. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends those that want
to own environmentally friendly vehicles check to see if the vehicles they are
considering are SmartWay vehicles.
Vehicles that are certified to be SmartWay
vehicles are those that have lower fog forming emissions than other vehicles
and lower formation of greenhouse gases. Many transport companies today
including companies like auto transport company A-1
Auto Transport are choosing to partner with the EPA and are
working towards purchasing heavy-duty transport trucks that are fuel efficient
and environmentally friendly.
There are several ways that solar can work
to change the transport industry, and not only through solar powered engines or
fuel efficiency.
Power
Systems
Many large transport trucks operate with
refrigeration and HVAC during transport and there are now ways to utilize solar
power through solarpanels to power up the refrigeration and HVAC units as well as
battery chargers, lift gates and other electric systems on the trucks.
On a standard transport truck, the driver
will often need to let the truck idle to maintain power. This not only wastes fuel,
but it puts harmful emissions into the atmosphere. With solar panels to help
power systems on these large trucks, drivers will not need to let the truck sit
and idle because solar power will eliminate that need.
Solar
Powered Roadways
Companies like Solar Roadways,
an Idaho based solar company, have invested in solutions for powering the
nations roadways through solar panels. While this is not something that has
taken shape across the nation, the company did in fact install solar panels in
Jeff Jones Town Square in Sandpoint, Idaho on 150 square feet of the sidewalk
to power lighting. The initial cost for the venture was $60,000 and was
installed in August 2018.
If this were done on a large scale across
the nearly 30,000 square miles of highway roads across the United States, it
would be able to generate triple the amount of power used in America.
Implementation of a solar power grid this large however would essentially range
upwards of $70 trillion or more dollars over the next two to three decades. It
would however, help cut the transport costs by adding greener power systems
across the U.S highway system.
A
300-watt solar panel can generate enough power for a battery and can maintain a
charge for up to 2 hours. This is two hours that a transport truck will not
need to idle, wasting fuel and releasing carbon dioxide into the air. With
rechargeable solar batteries, companies will find fewer battery purchases and
more time available for transport rather than spending time calling for
emergency vehicle assistance.
While solar power is not going to cut out
all fuel costs for the transport industry, it does offer a great way to achieve
power with lower fuel usage, less emissions into the atmosphere and even with
the overall cost for switching to solar power, the return on investment can be
seen typically in under one year after the switch to solar. Those who own fleets can consider the savings
to be made from solar panels with reduction of idle time and longer battery
life for their transport trucks.
Solar Powered Parking
There will be 11 million electric vehicle charging stations in the US by 2020. That is why ware are building the largest crowdsourced database of "solar parking lots". We already have thousands of parking lots listed on Solar Parking Lots Map.
Solar Powered Parking
There will be 11 million electric vehicle charging stations in the US by 2020. That is why ware are building the largest crowdsourced database of "solar parking lots". We already have thousands of parking lots listed on Solar Parking Lots Map.
Overall, when applied correctly, solar
power can greatly benefit the transport industry and those served by the
industry each year.
