I have an idea that could save the lives of children. I don't

[Maraya1969]

Last edited Thu Jul 24, 2014, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

know what to do about it so I am putting it here.

They now have solar AC working in race cars. Why not make it mandatory to have this system installed on all new cars? This would be most important for people with young children so if they do end up leaving the child in the car it would stay on a livable temperature even when the engine is off. I am not saying to leave the car running, just enough solar power to keep the AC on. And what a better place to put solar but on the top of your car.

And then you would not have to buy a new electric car for much $$$$. It would be a fraction of the cost.


Plus it would be great for people who get mad hot in the summer and do not like going straight from the heat outside to they worse heat in their car. My car gets so hot the steering while burns my hands.

This would also be great for people who take their dogs in the car with them. When I take my dogs around in summer it is only to go through a drive through and take them for a ride. It would be great if I could take them and do some errands too.

I understand there will be problems like wearing down your AC. But I think people who are smarter than me could find a way to fix that.

[yellerpup]

1. Intriguing.

I hope you find someone who can do something with the idea. Good thinking!

[Maraya1969]

2. Thank you!

[NaturalHigh]

3. Interesting idea.

I'm not smart enough to make it work, but I don't see why someone couldn't do it.

[Maraya1969]

4. Yea that's my problem. Most people with ideas can make prototypes and show how it

will work. I can't even put furniture together when it comes disassembled.

[oldhippie]

18. Can you do the math ...

... To show how it would be feasible to put enough solar panels on a car that would produce enough energy to power an A/C capable of moving enough BTUs to cool a car to a safe temperature? And then show the approximate cost?

If so, you might find someone willing to design and prototype a demo.

[a kennedy]

16. Here's an interesting company.....you send in ideas, they come up with a plan.

https://www.quirky.com/how-it-works#. Just a thought.

[NaturalHigh]

17. Hmmm...cool concept.

I'll have to check into that. Thanks.

[Maraya1969]

5. I found this thing that allows you to do a conversion to electric from gas

by buying the stuff you need and either doing it yourself or having someone who knows what they are doing put it in.




http://www.electric-cars-are-for-girls.com/electric-car-conversion.html

[jeff47]

6. Not sure you can get enough power

A/C takes a lot of energy. I'm not sure you could get enough power from solar cells on the car - it's not much surface area.

The A/C in race cars you are talking about cools only the driver via his suit, and only to 90F. The load for the entire cabin of the car, and to a more reasonable temperature, would be a lot higher.

[Travis_0004]

8. Sounds like a waste of money to me

Use solar panels to charge a battery on a hybrid, but running an AC on a car that is not being used is dumb. I would hate to be forced to spend 1000 bucks on this system since I dont even have kids.

[Maraya1969]

11. Yea and I just watched a man who left his daughter in the car and she died. Do you think

He would have rather paid the thousand dollar? And I don't get where you are getting your numbers from.

[laundry_queen]

13. I always find it ironic

When someone on a Democratic website says, "why should I pay for someone else's kids?" I think they took a wrong turn on the internets.

[Maraya1969]

21. I was looking for a "Like" button for your post. I completely agree with you.

[Travis_0004]

15. For 10 bucks he could have bought a solar powered fan

They are designed so you crack the window and put the fan in. A lot cheaper than running AC.

[Maraya1969]

20. The problem with that is if the person remembers to put the fan in place and turn it on he will also

remember that he has a child in the back seat! What I am talking about is something you can set up to run for a couple of months during the high heat days and once you set it up it just automatically turns on when you turn the car off.

[Lee-Lee]

9. Cars cost way above what they used too because of all the "good ideas" mandated

Every new "good idea", no matter how well intentioned, drives up cost.

We already have made a new car out of reach of so many, we need to quit driving the cost up.

My dad still drives the same truck he bought brand new in 1988- he got it loaded with every option and a diesel for $12,000.

He went and looked the other day, that same class truck, diesel, fully loaded was $60,000!

His income is almost exactly the same when adjusted for inflation. He could afford it in 88, now no way.

[KinMd]

12. This is the result of some of the new ideas

A comparison of annual traffic deaths reported by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that traffic deaths have been on a steady decline over the past few years. In 2012, 33,561 individuals lost their lives on the nation’s roads; a 34% drop compared to a high of 51,093 deaths in 1979.

[hunter]

10. I like your idea.

Electric cars, and some modern fuel powered cars, have electric air conditioners anyways, so it's something that is already mass-produced. Just add solar.

And built-in would be much better than this:

[LeftyMom]

14. Overkill and very expensive. Since the problem is with kids in car seats

a better solution would be one based in the seat.

But in either case driving up the cost of new cars or new safety seats would probably cost more lives (in families priced out of newer, safer equipment) than it would save, likely many times over.

[snooper2]

19. um, a computer and some software that detects a living creature in the car would be a LOT cheaper

Then you could program it to say something like---


Doors won't lock because you left your child in the backseat dumbass

And force the alarm to go off after 2 minutes non-stop if live creature is still detected and driver has left vehicle----


Easy Peasy---