Profile America, Technology

Profile America: First Solar-Powered Car

August 31, 2017 9:45 AM·
The first Solar-powered car was developed by the General Motors Corporation.

The first Solar-powered car was developed by the General Motors Corporation.

Thursday, August 31 — The 1950s may be recalled for many now-quaint things, but it was also a decade with antecedents for our current technological pursuits. On this date in 1955, William G. Cobb of the General Motors Corporation demonstrated the world’s first solar-powered car. This vehicle didn’t take the world by storm because it was a model a mere 15 inches long. A solar powered car that could actually be driven was unveiled in 1962; a 1912 Baker electric car was fitted with nearly 11,000 individual solar cells on the roof to power the vehicle.

Now, 55 years on, a fully practical solar-powered car remains a goal. But manufacturing automobiles, mostly powered by internal combustion, is a $118 billion a year business in the U.S.

Profile America is in its 21st year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Author: Michael Benjamin is a public affairs consultant and an editorial board member at The New York Post. He is a former contributing columnist to the NY Post, City and State NY and other publications. He is a former Member of the New York State Assembly (2003-2010) and once led the Bronx Board of Elections. Since leaving office, he has appeared as a commentator on TWC NY1, Bronxnet OPEN, Good Day NY, and Al Jazeera America. His columns and blog focus on corruption, government, education, politics, redistricting, nuclear energy and race. He holds a B.A. in political science from Syracuse University.