Solar Power World Records

Date: 25/04/22

Plugging our cars in to recharge them is slowly becoming a way of life here in the UK, as electric vehicles start to establish themselves as the future of personal transport. The same is happening on construction sites across the country, as vehicle and plant charging points become part of everyday life on site. And with Think Hire, you can add solar power to the mix, making your vehicle and plant charging even more environmentally friendly.

Of course, it’s not just site plant that is benefitting from solar power; all kinds of vehicles are using the free energy from the sun to go further, faster and higher than ever before. Next time you plug your telehandler into your solar vehicle and plant charging point, think about some of these amazing achievements…

Solar cars

With Think Hire technology, you can charge the battery on your electric car using solar power, but some cars take this a step further, incorporating solar panels directly into the vehicle. The fastest solar powered car was the Sky Ace from Japan’s Ashiya University, which achieved a speed of 56.75mph in 2014.

Unlike battery powered vehicles, direct solar powered cars don’t have to stop to recharge. The Solar Car Project drove all the way around the world in 2011/12, covering 18,487 miles without ever having to stop and plug in. Even roads can be solar powered these days, with a 1.7mile stretch of the A18 in Sicily creating all the power it needs for lights, signs and tunnel ventilation from solar panels alone.

Boats

When it comes to solar powered boats, nothing can compete with the mighty MS Turanor from Switzerland. The world’s largest solar boat, it has 537m2 of solar panels, which have powered it to numerous records. It sailed around the world in 2010/12, covering 37,296miles in one year, seven months and seven days, including the fastest solar crossing of the Atlantic in just twenty-two days and twelve hours.

Planes

The Swiss are also world leaders in solar powered aircraft, with the Solar Impulse setting many records for both distance and height. André Borschberg set the solar plane altitude record by flying at 9,235 m (30,298 ft), before joining fellow countryman, Bertrand Piccard for a round-the-world flight in 2015/16. The pair covered almost 27,000miles using solar power alone, including a record breaking flight of 117 hours 52 minutes between Japan and Hawaii covering 5,545 miles. They also flew 3,635 miles non-stop from New York City to Seville, Spain.

Trains

Even trains are getting in on the act when it comes to solar power, with an Australian tourist train taking visitors to the beach using only the sun. The Byron Bay Solar Train runs between Byron Beach and North Belongil Beach in New South Wales, Australia. As well as solar panels on the train itself, the station at Byron Beach also has a 30kW solar array. However, the weather in the region is so sunny that 65% of the power generated gets sold to the grid, with just a third of the power needed to ‘top-up’ the train.

While many of these projects are experimental, proof-of-concept projects, they do show the potential for solar power to drive forward the future on land, at sea and in the air. Of course, with Think Hire, that future is available to you right now. Our solar power generators are capable of creating all the electricity you need for your vehicle and plant charging stations right across your site, even in the remotest locations. Talk to our friendly team today to find out more about how solar power can help your business to cut costs, reduce emissions and fight climate change.

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