Best car for solar conversion?

[drterdan]

We're toying with the idea of creating a solar/electric car from a front-end of a car and adding solar cells to the roof. We would also reduce the drag by changing the aerodynamics in the rear. I want something that is a little bit safe (airbags). We would like a car with a short front end to leave room for more solar cells. We have looked at the Honda CRX and the Aveo as possible choices. Are there any other good choices to consider? We could build our own car from scratch, but it would take a long time. Thanks!

[ConnClark]

The best car for solar conversion is scratch built.

Production cars are too heavy. You would have to let the darn thing sit around for a few days before you could go for a drive.

[drterdan]

I agree. Production cars are too heavy. We were going to add lithium batteries to the car. Our objective was to half recharge the batteries in 8 hours using the solar cells after a 20 mile drive. It wasn't going to run entirely off of solar, there would be a charger on board.

[Ryland]

Non of the CRX's had air bags, you aren't going to find air bags on anything until about 1992.
Saturns are going to have a longer front end but have plastic fenders, Geo Metro's would work but they have that control arm issue in the front end altho you might find a geo sedan, a Toyota Yaris has a stubby nose, same with a smart car and a rear ended smart car is going to have the engine gone too allowing you to put a lighter weight motorcycle based rear end in it with your drive train.