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• I'm so tired of electrical vehicles of any sort being described as "non-polluting." They're only non-polluting if the source of the charge is non-polluting, which it most likely isn't.

  Posted by: cwegscheid on August 9, 2006 at 4:09 PM

• These guys use solar panels which eight out of ten trolls agree are relatively nonpolluting.

  Posted by: Pekar on August 10, 2006 at 6:20 AM

• You got me, Pekar; I missed that. It was intended as more of a general comment, as there seems to be a general perception that electrical cars are non-polluting -- which, I maintain, the vast majority aren't. This one is, though, which is delightful.

  Posted by: cwegscheid on August 10, 2006 at 10:21 AM

• Oh, and could you define "troll" for me?

  Posted by: cwegscheid on August 10, 2006 at 10:25 AM

• Neat project.

  That being said...

  Show me how to make a solar panel with out polluting.

  Question: With todays technology, how long does a solar panel need to generate for to create more energy then was used to manufacture it? This is not trolling, but a question to ponder.

  Posted by: matthew_kleinmann on August 10, 2006 at 11:16 AM

• Hello matthew_klienmann,

  Most solar cells will produce enough electricity to "pay back" the power used to make them in about 5 years or less.
  From Wikipedia See the article for two annotations.

  The variance is 1 to 30 years for energy payback, depending on at least the efficiency/type of the cell and possibly other factors.

  Basically, they last a lot longer than it takes for them to pay themselves back energy-wise.

  Cool idea!
  -cajun

  Posted by: cajunfj40 on August 11, 2006 at 6:28 AM

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