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Solar carport: the greenest way to juice up your hybrid
Envision Solar, the company who brought you the Solar Grove, has a concept carport that could gather enough energy to power your home. The LifePort, a DIY kit the consists of a 22 x 22-foot steel frame with a solar panel up top has the goods to generate about 4.8 MWh per year — as much as a typical home consumes in the U.S.
It comes with outlets compatible with all plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles that are on the market today. So when you finally have your Chevy Volt, you’ll be able to fuel it up right in the garage, with enough leftover for the rest of the gadgets you’ve left on all the time.
No word on whether Envision will take away you old carport, like the mattress guys do.
Via Envision Solar
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By MIT560 at 12:14 PM ON 08/07/08
This is some good Tech. If you are ever in Fresno you could stop by Cal State, Fresno Unv. and see the solar/covered parking. This is not by Envision far as I know but still it is the same idea.
By CJW at 1:43 PM ON 08/07/08
Prius= $20,000
Conversion to Plugin Hybrid: $30,000
Solar Panel Carport: $40,000+?
Golly, saving a few bucks at the pump sure is expensive right now.
By murc at 6:14 PM ON 08/07/08
its cool and all, but wouldn't pay for itself.
I'll continue getting my power from coal...since its the cheapest power out there.
By Envision Solar at 6:49 PM ON 08/08/08
Thanks so much for the great comments! A LifePod(TM) costs about $20,000 and a full 2-car garage size LifePort(TM) costs about $40,000.
These challenging time are making financial forecasters of us all! A $20,000 Prius and a $20,000 LifePod(TM) will pay a homeowner back in 10 years in most utility markets due to subsidies, rebates, and savings on gas/ electricity because the LIfePod(TM) also offsets the home's peak electrical load. Most homeowners believe that adding PV increases the home's value.
Also check out Envision Solar's other less expensive residential solar products, at www.lifeportsolar.com (click on "Products")!
By MOGUR at 9:33 PM ON 08/09/08
How much just for the solar collector panel?
Puting it on an existing roof and just extending the connection to the driveway would save a lot of money.
By TRISCH at 12:23 PM ON 10/12/08
HOW MUCH JUST FOR THE SOLAR COLLECTOR PANELS ON MY EXISTING CAR PORT? SINGLE WIDE, 11 X 36