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Mercedes Benz Solar Paint
This claim by Mercedes, that a car could have a solar paint job that could power it for daily use, combines two of my favorite Technovelgy items by Robert Heinlein and Larry Niven.
(Could solar paint eliminate EV charging?)
The solar-painted Mercedes Benz is similar to what science fiction author Robert Heinlein imagined in his 1940 story Coventry; he called his vehicle the Steel Tortoise:
The vehicle he had chosen was... was extremely rugged, easy to operate, and almost foolproof. It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof. These drove a constant-load motor, or, when halted, replenished the storage battery against cloudy weather, or night travel. The bearings were 'everlasting', and every moving part, other than the caterpillar treads and the controls, were sealed up, secure from inexpert tinkering.
Steel Tortoise from 'Coventry' by Robert Heinlein)It could maintain a steady six miles per hour on smooth, level pavement. When confronted by hills, or rough terrain, it did not stop, but simply slowed until the task demanded equaled its steady power output.
(Read more about steel tortoise)
I've always like the solar power paint idea that Larry Niven described in his 1995 story The Woman in Del Rey Crater:
Black Power, they call it. It turns sunlight into electricity, just like any solar power converter, but you spray it on.
(Read more about Niven's black power)
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 12/5/2024)
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Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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Thermostabilized Wet Meat Product (Prototype)
There are no orbiting Michelin stars. Yet.
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'Power could be compressed thus into an inch-square cube of what looked like blue-white ice'
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'It is necessary... for your own protection.'
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'It's so light that you can set it up in five minutes by yourself...'
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'Heavy penalties... were to be applied to any one found driving manually-controlled machines.'
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I might also be thinking of K-9 from Doctor Who.
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'It is remarkable that the long leverages of their machines are in most cases actuated by a sort of sham musculature...'
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'...copy was turned out in a charming and entirely feminine handwriting.'
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'It was almost unheard of for slunch to spread that fast...'
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'He then started hand movements of definite pattern...'
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'Men are made of protoplasm... Lasts forever.'
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Walk along with the emperor.
