Photovoltaics and Electric vehicles.
Summary: Investing in solar panels, to provide energy for EV's, has a good financial return, in addition to the fact that direct carbon emissions is cut to ZERO. This, alone, is a good thing.
The following comparison is between gasoline powered autos (ICE) and EV's, connected to grid-tied solar panels.
Energy available with Solar Panels: Assume that I can harvest an amount of kWatt-hrs as calculated here. For 1.53kWatt of panels, I can harvest 2424 k Watt-hr per year or 6.64 kWatt-hr per day. I am using the data for a 2 axis tracking panel array in Houston. Cities in the SW recieve 50% more insolation than Houston.
My little EV runs on 220 watt hours per mile. (This figure as reported is metered before the charger.) With 6.64 kWatt-hours of harvested solar energy, my daily range is 6640 / 220 = 30 miles. Here is a summary of data collected locally on solar insolation.
Cost of Solar Panels: A good estimate of the cost of 1.53 kWatt installation, was recently obtained from a PV supplier. It is coming in at $4.29 / watt. (I am a tinkerer, and am not including the installation cost). I assume that the federal rebate is 30%. so 4.29 now is $3.03 / watt. So, for 1.53 kWatt of panels, the cost is 1530 watts x $3.03 $/watt= $4635. Some cities, such as Austin, Tx, have additional rebates. Houston, we have a problem!
Summary, PV and EV: For a $4635 investment in 1.53 kWatt of solar panels, one can drive 30 miles per day, on average. Panels guaranteed for 25 years. Panels do not stop working at 25 years. Guaranteed ! - the cost of solar energy will not increase.