Peak Moment 145: John Weber’s Boise, Idaho house with south-facing windows rarely needs heat and never air conditioning. Meet a man who has built a passive-solar house with solar electric power and solar hot water; plus a solar-powered electric car — and who rides a bike! With photovoltaics tied to the grid, he sells surplus electricity back to the power company. John shows how he converted his “Sun Car” from a junked Festiva to all-electric, with added solar panels on top to extend its range. Ride with us – and hear how quiet it is!
25 Responses
@gilgamesh1962
instead of roof mounted make a cover out of solar power plastic instead. It is way more efficient, and doesn’t use silicon. Plus the angle of the sun doesn’t matter near as much so contouring to the vehicle is not a problem, not to mention its effective on cloudy days. It costs a fraction of as much as silicon panels and weighs 100x less. Then make the car cut wind.. fiberglass body-kit and install LED lamps, can even use solar dye on windows. oh the possibilities.
I agree, beside, if oil production keeps declining, its not a question if Gov’s like it or not, some alternative to oil will be needed. and most alternatives can be produced individually, Electric can be produced by Solar, and wind, Ethanol can be made using bio waste products like with e-fuel system , then there is methanol from bio-digesters, and so on.
I applaud John’s efforts, but I would have some suggestions, the caosting switch can be placed on the break, so when he lightly presses, it coasts, press harder, it breaks. also find ways to make the weigh less I noticed a lot of stuff not required. and the main change would be to use better batteries, like lithium, they weigh less and have more power ( last longer too) and place the panels on the house instead, you’ll generate the power there that later you’ll use to charge the car.
lol 20 miles!
Did you watch the video? What “thing” do you mean?
What the hell is this thing???
And they are finding ways, big time. They now printed 2.2 trillion dollars (for now) out of thin air to bail their cronies out (those too big to fails) and it’s going to come back within a few years at most as the biggest depression ever or maybe even hyperinflation. Let’s not forget inflation is a hidden tax on people and they know it very well,and they also know that 99% of people don’t understand these bailouts are done on purpose as a way of secretly taxing people (wealth transfer).
It was a Recycled 1990 Ford Festiva you Idiot.
Thanks for your support, friend. Robyn and I produce Peak Moment pretty much on a volunteer basis so far (we get a little funding from dvd sales).
Your donations and dvd purchases, on our website peakmoment-dot-tv keep us going. We also invite folks to sign up for our monthly email newsletter with behind-the-scenes news. Same place.
I personally think that anyone that does what this guy has done shouldn’t have to pay taxes at all, and let the hummer drivers pay a huge penalty. Janaia you have dedicated a lot of your own time and money in the cause that should have started way before now, and I for one thank you. I’m hoping to do many of the same things that John has done on my farm, not because I’m a tree huger (I’m not) because we don’t need to have the things we have put in front of us all these years to live. Thanks!
Politicians have been brilliantly finding things to tax for thousands of years. Even when petroleum is scarce, surely they will find other things to tax. Here in California as well as at the federal level, they’re thinking of new things like taxing soda pop!
They will have to come up with a way to get money out of you somehow. Sure you will need electricity to charge them so maybe they just raise electrical rates then to get the money out of you.
The problem they have with electric cars now is they havent figured a way to monetize it for their needs yet. When they figure that out then they will become mainstream. They have to keep you hooked into the loop of paying them money.
I appreciate electric hybrid cars but the problem is they will NEVER be mainstream. Heres why… Politicians need your money. If we all stopped buying gasoline where would all the tax dollars go to build roads and all their little pet projects they throw away? The loss of sales of petroleum would kill our economy from the taxes they collect. The politicians arent going to let you have electric cars. That would be like shooting themselves in their own foot.
Be smart – don’t pay any more electricity bills. more info: solar.xfollow.me (Copy to your browser’s address bar)
The remains of GM has nothing to worry about if 45 mph and 20 mile range is all the competition has to offer.
We aren’t going to get to the post-oil world in a flying leap. There will be all kinds of transitional projects and products. Powering-down is a step-wise process Because just about EVERYTHING we use has oil connected to it! Anything that uses less (of all materials) is a step in the right direction.
does it not occur to you that this would be a way to convert aka. recycle vehicles that already exist into something such as this? that perhaps this is a way to keep or salvage vehicles from vast waste lands of junk yards into an item of use? one that perhaps could take a bike riding person say… on bike difficult errands or perhaps the ER in during inclement weather or in a hurry (as compared to cycling). or has your short sidedness clouded your ability to see through the cynicism?
11:20 – Start of short segment that mentions Peak Oil.
Wow! A car that can go as fast as 45 mph and has a whole 20 mile range! That and the fact that it took the energy of a few barrels of oil to make and all the synthetic rubber (made from oil), is covered in paint that was made from petrochemicals and it’s full of plastic parts too! Clearly this has a future in an oil-free world.
It is so wonderful seeing people taking all the information that is “out there” and showing us all how it works in our ordinary lives. Great video – simple, gentle, hype free common (and uncommon) sense. Thank you.
So who else other than GM is putting out a usable electric car?
good video!
Not everything should be viewed in monetary payback terms – most people who install solar PV, are not doing it for cost savings, they are doing it because it is the right thing to do and are pioneering. Sure, many people can’t afford it on a big scale, but if you can, you are helping to solve our climate and energy crisis, not adding to it.
Wow! This guy rocks! Thanks for bringing us his story.
I wish now that when I bought my condo I had chosen one with a south facing deck. That way the big glass doors and dining nook window would absorb the winter sunlight (what there is of it). My condo faces west and gets the afternoon sunlight, which is exactly what I don’t need. I’m doing well in other areas though.
People who make money from collecting interest are promoting the worst in humanity.