If you are looking for ways to save money, you might want to look beyond just the car insurance rates you are paying each month.  In fact, the biggest loss of money for the majority of people is the amount of fuel they are pumping into their cars each month.  If inventors have their way, however, this may not be as big of a problem in the near future.  Why?  Because they are looking at creating cars that run entirely from the suns energy.

Charging Your Battery with the Sun 

Just imagine taking a drive to the mall or to the beach and reenergizing your car along the way. With the help of solar panels that are built directly into the roof of your car, this may be possible one day.  Believe it or not, some car manufacturers will soon be offering solar features that will help your car work more efficiently.

In 2010, some models of cards will be including small solar roof panels that will provide charging power to the accessories within the car. Some of these cars will use the power to run fans inside the car in order to keep the interior cool.  It is also possible to use this solar power to keep the onboard electronics powered so your battery doesn’t run out after a couple of weeks without being driven.

Improving Gas Mileage with Solar Hybrid Cars

High car insurance rates may be back on the top of your list of money-sucking payments when you take advantage of solar hybrid cars.  With these cards, you simply coat the roof panels with flexible solar tiles.  According to supporters of the technology, this can help extend the range of your gas tank by 20 to 40 miles when used with hybrid cars.  This is because hybrid cars work with an internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor that is powered by several hundred small batteries.  With the help of the solar panels, the motor can stay fully charged and perform more efficiently. 

Although buying a car that harnesses the power of the sun certainly won’t help you save any money on your car insurance rates, the money you save on gas will certainly make owning a car less of a financial burden.  And, you can feel good knowing that your car is more eco-friendly as well.  It doesn’t get much better than that!

UPDATE: View the YouTube.com video above of the reveal of the 2010 Toyota Prius with optional Solar Panel

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