Wayne bought a new car! Who can guess what?

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by Wayne 962

MIT Solar car that I worked on in 1993/1994. Tracked it down and acquired it about 8-10 years ago:



There I am, all the way on the right side. I'm about 21 years old there!

-Wayne

Curious, how much more efficient are solar panels today than they were back in '94?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Wayne 962

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. The 914 is still in my garage right now (we're on vacation in CO in the RV right now). I think the problem is mechanical - runs *great* at above 1500 rpm, but idles like **** when warm. Like my 1972 911 with a miss on cylinder #3, I think I'm going to have to just live with that one for now. I'll drive it hard until I blow it up and then rebuilt it. The car was stolen and driven by the thief around town at 110 mph or so (according to the police who saw the car, but didn't give chase), so who the heck knows what happened to it!

-Wayne

Drive it like ya stole it!.... since someone else already has. I like the way you think!

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Curious, how much more efficient are solar panels today than they were back in '94?

Exponentially more efficient.

Systems have also dropped in price from $50k to $20k in 10 years.

That is why the residential solar boom was not until a few years ago.

[Mark Henry]

Sort of looks like the car from "Speed Racer".

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Curious, how much more efficient are solar panels today than they were back in '94?

We used donated "rejects" from Lockheed and off the top of my head, they were 20-22% efficient. These were space-grade back then and would have cost $100K or so. I think the standard ones these days are 15-20%, but they are much cheaper commercial grade ones.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Exponentially more efficient.

They have become exponentially less expensive, not exponentially more efficient.

-Wayne

[DWBOX2000]

God that Clockwork Orange picture still creeps me out. Saw that way too young.

[Wayne 962]

Car should be arriving in a week or two. Had some issues with the paperwork and it needs to go back to Canada to be reimported. What a hassle! First world problem though indeed...


-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Just recently learned the previous owner, who has owned the car for 27 years, never drove it even once! That means that we need to go thru every system. I think I'll start with the brakes, as stopping is pretty much the most important thing...

-Wayne

[DonDavis]

Great start, for sure.

Please video first engine starts and such. I think it'd be great viewing.