Coming soon to a golf course near you: solar powered golf carts
A new solar product from a company called PowerFilm will make its debut in February: a military-grade snap-on solar panel systems, compatible with both golf carts and electric cars.
Electric vehicle manufacturer E-Z-GO partnered with PowerFilm to create the snap-on solar panel, which has been designed and manufactured to military specifications. PowerFilm is already familiar with military-grade products and has a signature product called Power Shade that is a solar-enabled field tent created for the Army.
Another PowerFilm project–a rugged, solar powered electric display designed for remote use–was awarded a $5.5 million grant from the Army Research Laboratory for its development.
The snap-on solar panel system will be compatible with E-Z-Go vehicles traveling in low-speed environments such retirement communities, gated communities, industrial facilities, and others. There is potential as well that it will be used in a similar way in the near future on military bases as well.
The panel system is designed to reduce golf cart battery charging costs, improve overall battery life and extend the range of the vehicle. It is not designed to replace the conventional power source for the vehicles.
However, should the primary charge for the vehicle come from a source that is supported by a stationary solar array, the vehicle in that case would be considered 100 percent solar powered. Both military and private sectors are already working on that option in many cases.
