UCF Staff Turn Heads With Sun-Powered Fleet Car (Video)

By Kimberly Lewis Aug. 20, 2009

Photo: Jacque Brund

UCF's solar-powered fleet car is driven daily by David Norvell, director of UCF's Office of Sustainability and Energy Management.

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UCF may be the only university in the country with a quirky, solar-powered staff vehicle which requires no fuel and virtually no electricity to recharge its battery.

UCF's solar car is driven daily by its inventor, David Norvell, director of UCF's Office of Sustainability and Energy Management, to campus buildings, meetings and other university activities.

Three solar panels on the colorful car's roof resemble a tabletop, grabbing the attention of curious onlookers and giving Norvell many opportunities to spread his message about the importance of energy conservation and environmental stewardship.

The solar panels convert the sun's energy into electricity that keeps the car's battery charged, even at night and on overcast or rainy days. Without the solar panels, the car would need to be plugged into an electrical outlet every 35 miles, for eight hours each day to recharge the battery.

"We've never plugged it in," said Norvell, whose office purchased the car in December and has since logged 1,600 miles. 

While the electricity required to recharge the battery is inexpensive -- the equivalent of about 70 cents a gallon of gasoline -- Norvell said eliminating the daily step of recharging the battery is convenient and saves time. The UCF solar car is registered in Florida as a neighborhood electric vehicle, or NEV, which means by law it is allowed only on roads with speed limits of up to 35 miles per hour. This makes it an ideal vehicle for getting around residential communities, resorts or college campuses.

UCF's solar car is set to a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. It's easy to convert a battery-powered car into a solar car, according to Norvell, who said he retrofitted the NEV with solar panels in just one day. (Read "How to Convert Your Plug-In Car into a Solar-Powered Car" here.)

Several brands of electric, plug-in cars are available to consumers. UCF purchased a ZENN brand with air conditioning for $18,000. The solar panels were purchased separately from a local retailer for $2,000. Professional installation of the solar panels might cost $500. In comparison, a new, mid-sized hybrid vehicle, powered by gasoline and battery, can cost more than $20,000. All-electric plug-in vehicles capable of higher speeds can cost $50,000 or more.

Maintenance costs are much less than maintaining a regular gas-powered vehicle. The NEV's electric motor means the car has no oil, timing belts, fuel injectors, spark plugs, mufflers, or other typical fuel-engine parts to maintain. The battery pack, at $2,000, typically lasts three years, but the solar panels extend the battery life by providing constant charge. This cost is much less than what it would cost to fuel and maintain a gas-powered car for three years. Tire and brake maintenance costs are comparable to the costs for similar-sized vehicles. Because of the car's lower speed, the brakes will last longer than brakes on high-speed vehicles.

Owning a solar-powered car might seem pricey to some, but Norvell said it's important to factor-in the low maintenance costs, zero fuel costs, and the current federal stimulus tax credits available to buyers of “green” vehicles. In 2009, a federal tax credit of nearly $3,500 is available to buyers of NEVs.

Norvell hopes the UCF solar car will educate and inspire others to start driving green. "When people see our solar car around campus, they always stop and ask about it," Norvell said. "It's such a great way to educate people about sustainability."

UCF Stands for Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 50,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu.

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