Comment Log Display

SUNCAR Technology Corporation 
Avila Beach, Ca 93424-0043
suncartech.org
805 350 3230

May 12, 2007

Clerk of the Board
Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Electronic submittal to:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/comm/bclist.php

This communication is being submitted as written comments for the
California Air Resources Board consideration at the May 24-25,
2007 ARB Meeting in San Diego. We have reviewed the ZEV Technology
Review report dated April 20, 2007. Our comments are for further
possible action by the ARB. Please consider the following:
Petroleum-based fuels and energy have been the main source for
powering vehicles over the past century. A major alternative
source of available energy is the abundant sunlight in
California.
  We would like to see additional efforts by ARB directed to
long-term truly clean electric Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs)
development that maximizes use of this solar energy. It is
reasonable to use as much of California’s abundant sunshine as can
be made practical to help power personal transportation.  One
method of advancing near and long-term zero emission vehicle
technologies would be to push the pioneers (large and small) to
further develop true zero emission vehicles by using photovoltaic
solar energy conversion for assisting plug-in battery powered
electric ZEVs.
The immediate effect would be that this helps extend the daily
driving range of a battery powered electric ZEV used for commuting
and other purposes. For example, a fully charged ZEV leaving home
in the morning can be parked in the sunlight where, using
photovoltaic cells, it could continue to actively charge the
battery pack all day long while the sunlight is available up to
the point of departure for the return trip in the evening.  
Recent technology advancements in new generation thin film
photovoltaic solar cells make this scenario much more practical
from a cost and suitability standpoint than it was just a few
years ago. There is already at least one company successfully
producing and supplying these advanced photovoltaic cells in
volume. More companies are establishing large scale manufacturing
facilities in California to produce advanced thin film
photovoltaic solar cells. These thin film cells are lightweight
but flexible and the costs are significantly less than older
generation silicon solar cells. 
Successful deployment of photovoltaic solar assisted plug-in
battery electric ZEVs will help supplant vehicles having tailpipe
emissions of greenhouse gasses. Analysis of daily driving habits,
especially local trips and short commutes shows that much more of
what is done presently with full size, full performance highway
vehicles could be done using properly configured photovoltaic
solar assisted battery powered ZEVs targeted for local use. In
some instances these can be entirely sun-powered and a true ZEV
when the daily routine is for short distances. 
A shift in public response might be possible for use of these as
second or even third family vehicles instead of conventional
petroleum powered vehicles. Certainly the public has responded to
the AT PZEV type of vehicle (such as the PRIUS) in ways more
favorable than expected by many in the automobile industry. ARB
regulations and programs helped this rapid transition. 
Good targeting of future regulations and development programs
might help accelerate the solar photovoltaic electric ZEV as well.
Defining this photovoltaic enhancement as a premium alternative
course for large manufacturers might also help progress. There is
little doubt that over the long term the battery powered ZEVs will
become more successful as battery technologies and costs improve.
Advanced, lightweight materials incorporated into new vehicle
designs will also contribute to progress.
What we are advocating here goes beyond that – toward the ultimate
ZEV.
Another point to consider is that even a current design plug-in
battery electric ZEV generally uses the electrical grid as it’s
only power source and consequently is depending on power plants.
Many power plants are themselves sources of greenhouse gasses
(GHG) due to the petroleum or coal fuel they consume. Any progress
that can be made to supplant that grid supplied power with
photovoltaic solar supplied power is a positive step in reduction
of emissions. Photovoltaic enhancement of AT PZEVs and ZEVs could
help reduce gasoline use and grid supplied electrical power and
there is no special infrastructure required since the photovoltaic
cells are mounted on the vehicle.  Eventually having millions of
vehicles utilizing several kilowatt-hours per day or more of free
and totally clean power from the sun can begin to make a
difference. And much more might be possible. 
Our view is that photovoltaic enhanced ZEVs could become a very
important step in the right direction because the GHG situation
would be improved and the direct economic costs could become very
favorable over the long term compared to gasoline powered
vehicles.
We believe that these photovoltaic enhanced electric ZEVs will
become an important part of overall personal transportation
solutions in the future.  
Our simple request is that the ARB evaluate this potential and
begin to promote it as part of future and even near term actions
and programs so that we get to true ZEV use as early as possible.
	
We look forward to your consideration of these matters. 

Sincerely,

Thomas Brandt
Thomas Brandt
Chairman & CEO
Suncar Technology Corporation