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Technology Stocks : Applied Materials No-Politics Thread (AMAT)
AMAT 226.19-3.2%1:16 PM EST
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To: TimF who wrote (23278)7/8/2008 1:25:55 PM
From: allatwwk  Read Replies (3) of 25522
 
Guys, solar cells on cars just don't make economic sense. The reason you put solar panels on a roof with a sun facing exposure is that they will get the maximum light and generate the most energy.

Say its 105 degrees outside and you have Prius with these cells. You have an option to park your Prius undercover at your company's parking garage. Do you 'let it bake' as one person wrote, for 50 cents of electricity?

Now take those same solar panels and put them on your roof. On 105 degree day, you park the Prius undercover and the solar cells generate power at home. In fact, those solar cells are more efficient because they are facing the optimum direction at the optimum tilt. Unless the Prius is parked facing south on a 20 degree slope, its leaving energy behind.

The rooftop life of a solar cell is 25-30 years (and I have no idea what causes a panel to degrade). The life of a car is 10-15 years.

You guys have convinced me of one thing. Even if solar cells on a Prius is not an efficient way to use solar power, it does pass the 'marketing' test. If people buy these for whatever reason, its good business. If solar cells on a Prius roof make fashion sense, I'm fine with it. Good business is not always about being most efficient.

In terms of demand, this is probably a small market. But if consumers like it, it can't hurt. The devices that would be used are probably Si wafer based, since cars don't have large flat surfaces. Its not AMAT's core thin film market, but still one that they participate in.
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