hi
about a year ago, i bought a daihatsu hijet mpv with plans to eventually turn it into a solar powered van, as funds (and/or ability) permit. inspired by a bedford rascal solar [+ wind] powered van conversion i had seen, i thought since it managed great range and power with just a small strip of solar on the roof, i wondered how much more could be achieved with the entire bodywork being solar (having seen the existence of solar paint). i even wondered about a fancy origami wind turbines that would pop up from the roof when parked.
lots of wild ideas... who knows what will come of this.
due to some metaphorical bumps in the road, funds and health have hampered progress in this direction further.
hopefully signing up here will help keep the fire lit under this idea.
the van is currently off the road (alternator or something, not sure yet). most i've ever done with it mechanically myself is change a wheel. it did get an expensive radiator the day after i bought it too.
... things like that radiator, and the cost of fuel in the uk here, also help keep the impetus to get it converted going.
my brother (who lives on another continent) converted a diesel civic (or was it an accord, i forget) to a hybrid system that could run off vegetable oil. i want to beat him, both for economy and ecology.
