French designer creates solar energy car that also powers your home
The prototype is currently being used by a couple who say that as well as providing them with transport, the vehicle provides two-thirds of the electricity they need at home
The vehicle is powered by solar energy and can even power your home when not in use
PATIWIT HONGSANG / Shutterstock
A man in central-east France has created a 鈥榗ar of the future鈥� that runs on solar energy, can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, and can even power your home when not in use.
Industrial designer Tobias Demantke, based in Matour in Sa么ne-et-Loire, has been testing his prototype vehicle, which can carry four to five people, and has a solar panel roof of 8m2.
It was created using offcuts from building materials, such as wood and plexiglass.
He said: 鈥淲e did a test day with almost-empty batteries, and we managed to do almost 100km, using the solar panels only. [Based on that], we鈥檇 be able to do more than 300,000km per year!鈥�
When not in use, the car can also become a source of electricity for the home, thanks to a simple extension cord and an adapted battery system.
The prototype vehicle is currently being used by residents Vincent Rouz茅 and Marie-Laure Schneuwly, who say that the car alone produces two-thirds of the electricity they need to power their home.
They describe the car as a 鈥減ositive鈥� use of energy and see it as a genuine alternative to polluting combustion engines.
Mr Rouz茅 : 鈥淭his vehicle is really virtuous. It is light, and fuelled by solar power. If 鈥� combined with this 鈥� everyone used their cars a little less, we really envisage that this could help to fight climate change.鈥�
Inventor Mr Demantke said that 鈥渨e must all change the way we get around鈥�, and that 鈥渞eselling petrol vehicles whose motors we have replaced with batteries鈥� is not enough.
He has decided not to patent his design, and to make it public. He said: 鈥淲e made it public so that it can be profitable for everyone, due to the improvements that it would make for our environment and our future life.鈥�
He is now calling on companies and manufacturers to take his prototype and produce a model on a large scale.
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