of the world's estimated 1.4 billion vehicles

世界上估計有14億輛汽車

run on fossil fuels,

在化石燃料上運行。

releasing a whole bunch of pollutants.

釋放出一大堆的汙染物。

Can you believe that a typical car

你能相信，一輛典型的汽車

emits roughly 4.6 metric tons of CO2 every year?

每年大約排放4.6公噸二氧化碳？

Fortunately, momentum to take gas vehicles off the road

幸運的是，讓燃氣車不再上路的勢頭很好

is building around the world

在全世界範圍內建立

with many countries planning to phase out

許多國家都計劃逐步淘汰

fossil fuel powered vehicles in the coming years.

未來幾年，化石燃料動力汽車。

And at the forefront of this shift

而在這種轉變的最前沿

towards alternatively powered vehicles

替代動力汽車的發展

are the teams competing in the World Solar Challenge.

是參加世界太陽能挑戰賽的隊伍。

By now, we know all about the sun and the technology

現在，我們對太陽和技術都有所瞭解了。

like the batteries, solar cells and aerodynamic structures

如電池、太陽能電池和空氣動力結構

that are being used to harness the sun's power.

正在被用來利用太陽的力量。

We even understand the mechanics

我們甚至瞭解機械

of how to power a solar car.

的如何為太陽能汽車供電。

And don't worry, if you're fuzzy on the details here,

如果你對這裡的細節模糊不清，也不用擔心。

then you can go watch our previous videos

那麼你可以去看我們以前的視頻

in this Learning Playlist

在這個學習播放列表中

where we talk about all of that stuff.

在那裡我們談論所有的東西。

So, now, let's explore what's it gonna take

那麼，現在，讓我們來探討一下，需要什麼？

to power all of our cars using the sun.

利用太陽為我們所有的汽車提供動力。

It all comes down to pretty much one thing.

這一切都歸結為差不多一件事。

The amount of solar power

太陽能發電量

that a car is able to generate

汽車能夠產生的

compared to the amount of power it uses up.

與它所消耗的電量相比。

Electric cars, gas powered cars,

電動汽車、燃氣動力汽車。

self-driving cars, you name it,

自動駕駛汽車，你的名字。

have pretty big power demands.

有相當大的功率需求。

So while incorporating solar technology

是以，在融入太陽能技術的同時

into lightweight vehicles

變成輕型車

like e-bikes and drones is relatively easy,

像電動自行車和無人機是比較容易的。

the same can't be said for larger vehicles like cars

大車則不然

which can easily weigh at least 2,000 kilograms

至少可以輕易地重達2,000公斤。

and need to be able to maintain

並需要能夠維持

constant power at high speeds.

在高速行駛時功率恆定。

Plus, most commercial cars today are also outfitted

另外，如今大多數商用車也都配備了

with power draining AC units,

與耗電的交流機。

radio systems and complex computer circuits.

無線電系統和複雜的計算機電路。

This poses a bit of a problem for photovoltaic systems,

這給光伏系統帶來了一點問題。

which as we've learned in previous episodes,

我們在之前的劇情中已經瞭解到，這。

are by their very nature only as powerful

在本質上，它們只是作為強大的

as the amount of photons they're able to absorb.

作為它們能夠吸收的光子量。

The more photons a solar cell absorbs into its material,

太陽能電池對其材料吸收的光子越多。

the more electricity can be produced.

可以生產更多的電力。

And basically, cars require a lot of energy to work.

而且基本上，汽車工作需要大量的能量。

And if we want to power them with solar energy,

如果我們想用太陽能為他們供電。

there's not a whole lot of surface area to work with.

沒有太多的表面積可以使用。

And then there's the fact that the solar cells we use

還有就是我們使用的太陽能電池。

out in the real world today

現實中

don't often reach their already limited efficiency.

往往達不到他們本來就有限的效率。

Right now, the best research-grade solar cells

目前，最好的研究級太陽能電池

are still at, like, 30%.

仍然是在，喜歡，30％。

And that's in a lab environment,

而這是在實驗室的環境下。

like, a teeny tiny solar cell.

像，一個十幾歲的小太陽能電池。

MAREN: With that said, we've certainly made huge strides

MAREN：話雖如此，我們確實取得了巨大的進步。

in improving the conversion rate of solar cells.

在提高太陽能電池的轉化率。

And work is underway to push their potential even further,

目前正在努力將其潛力進一步發揮出來。

whether that's through finding new materials configurations,

無論是通過尋找新的材料配置。

developing more sophisticated anti-reflective coatings

開發更復雜的防反射塗層

to let the cells capture more light,

讓細胞捕捉更多的光。

or even figuring out how to manipulate light waves

甚至想出如何操縱光波的方法

so that they're easier for the cells to absorb.

以便它們更容易被細胞吸收。

But until solar cells reach their maximum efficiency

但在太陽能電池達到最高效率之前

and then some,

還有一些。

designing solar vehicles to be as aerodynamic

設計太陽能汽車，使之成為空氣動力學的一部分。

lightweight and efficient as possible

輕巧高效

will remain the primary focus.

仍將是主要的重點。

So, while powering a car on sunlight alone

所以，雖然僅靠陽光為汽車提供動力。

does remain a challenge,

確實仍然是一個挑戰。

it's certainly not impossible,

這當然不是不可能。

because solar cars are a reality right now.

因為太陽能汽車現在已經成為現實。

I've been given a pretty unique opportunity

我得到了一個很獨特的機會

to ride in a solar car

坐太陽能車

while it is going around the figure eight track.

當它在繞著八字形軌道走的時候。

This is the Minnesota team. They've drafted me.

這是明尼蘇達隊。他們已經徵召了我。

And who's spot am I taking?

那我是誰的位置？

MAN: Uh, you're taking Chris' spot around here.

呃，你要取代克里斯的位置在這裡。

-DEREK: Chris? -MAN: Yeah.

-克里斯?-是的

-[CHUCKLES] -That's okay.

-沒關係。

Is there something I should know?

有什麼我應該知道的嗎？

-You'll figure it out. -[ALL LAUGHING]

-你會明白的-[所有的笑聲]

DEREK: The Eos II is a two-door, two-seater,

DEREK：Eos II是一款雙門雙座的車型。

so kinda like a concept solar coop.

所以有點像一個概念的太陽能合作社。

Man, this is intense. [CHUCKLES]

男人，這是激烈的。[笑聲]

WOMAN: All right, solar car to Ricky. Am I clear to start?

好了，太陽能汽車給瑞奇。我可以開始了嗎？

DEREK: Keep in mind that the Eos II is a concept car.

DEREK：請記住，Eos II是一款概念車。

Clearly, it's not quite ready for production.

顯然，它還沒有完全準備好生產。

But the ride is surprisingly smooth,

但駕駛過程卻出奇的平穩。

though very loud.

雖然很大聲。

-Now I'm feeling the speed. -WOMAN: Yep.

-現在我感覺到了速度。-是的

And before you know it...

在你知道之前...

There we go. That was the end of it.

我們走吧這是它的結束。

-That's it? -That was the official rounds.

-就這樣？-那是正式的回合。

-Wow! -I know.

-哇！-我知道

That was easy. [CHUCKLES]

這很容易。[笑聲]

That was very nicely done.

這一點做得非常好。

Hurray!

萬歲！

While I wasn't able to fly over to Australia

雖然我沒能飛到澳洲去。

to ride around in a solar cruiser, unfortunately,

乘坐太陽能巡洋艦，可惜。

I did get the chance to speak

我確實有機會發言

with a few Stanford Solar team members

與一些斯坦福太陽能團隊成員

about whether they see solar cars

關於他們是否看到太陽能汽車

taking off beyond the race track.

在賽道之外起飛。

Yeah, I think that there's a chance

是的，我認為有一個機會。

that solar technology could make its way

太陽能技術可能會成為

into mainstream automobiles.

進入主流汽車。

There's always the chance that, you know,

總是有機會的，你知道，

some company comes out with a great innovation

獨樹一幟

that really pushes the industry forward.

這真正推動了行業的發展。

There are definitely limitations

肯定有侷限性

especially with the efficiency of solar powered cells

特別是太陽能電池的效率

and how much energy it takes to actually run a car.

以及實際運行一輛車需要多少能量。

But if you make your car aerodynamic,

但如果你把你的車做成空氣動力學的。

and you make your car light,

你就能讓你的車輕盈起來。

and you make your array really good,

你讓你的陣列真的很好。

then you're gonna be hard to beat.

那麼你會很難被打敗。

If there's one thing that I hope for,

如果有一件事是我希望的。

with solar cars specifically,

與太陽能汽車專門。

I really hope that it makes more people excited

真心希望能讓更多人興奮起來

about working on these new sources

關於在這些新資源上的工作

for renewable and sustainable energy.

可再生和可持續能源；

MAREN: But solar cars aren't just

MAREN：但是，太陽能汽車不僅僅是

at the Stanford Solar Car team's garage,

在斯坦福太陽能汽車團隊的車庫裡。

or racing across the Outback at the World Solar Challenge.

或在世界太陽能挑戰賽中橫跨內陸地區。

We've actually got a little known

我們其實有一個鮮為人知的

but rapidly growing solar vehicle commercial market.

但快速增長的太陽能汽車商用市場。

Startups like Sono Motors and Lightyear

索諾汽車和Lightyear等創業公司。

are going all-in on solar.

正在全身心地投入到太陽能上。

ARJO: And what excites me the most

最讓我興奮的是

about making commercial solar cars

關於製造商用太陽能汽車

is showing to the world

正在向世界展示

that we can be much more efficient

我們可以更有效率

with the energy that we have available

傾力而為

without having to compromise

順勢

on the convenience you get every day.

在你每天得到的便利上。

You improve the aerodynamics a bit,

你改進一下空氣動力學。

you improve the weight a bit,

你提高了一點重量。

you increase the solar panel array a bit,

你把太陽能電池板陣列增加一點。

you increase the efficiency of the solar panel a bit,

你會增加一點太陽能電池板的效率。

and then combining all of that,

然後把這些結合起來。

you basically match energy consumption and energy yield.

你基本上是把能源消耗和能源產出匹配起來。

We're not 100% there yet, but we're getting pretty close.

我們還沒有百分之百地做到，但我們已經很接近了。

The closer you get,

你越接近。

the more practical the car becomes to use every day.

車子日常使用越實用。

MAREN: Established companies like Hyundai and Toyota

MAREN：像現代和豐田這樣的成熟企業。

are also developing ways

還在制定方法

to incorporate solar panels into their cars.

將太陽能電池板安裝到他們的汽車上。

Albeit mainly as a way

儘管主要是作為一種方式

to lend cars a few extra miles of range

以借給汽車額外的幾英里的範圍。

or power some of the auxiliary system.

或為一些輔助系統供電。

It's a little less ambitious, sure,

當然，它的野心不大。

but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

但這無疑是朝著正確的方向邁出的一步。

And research teams all over the world

而世界各地的研究團隊

are working tirelessly

孜孜不倦

to make the next revolutionary breakthrough

以實現下一個革命性的突破

in solar panel technology,

在太陽能電池板技術方面。

which could be exactly what our cars need to level up.

這可能正是我們汽車需要提升的水準。

There's just too much at stake here

這裡有太多的風險

to let that big beautiful star above our heads go to waste.

讓我們頭頂上那顆美麗的大星白白浪費。

So, there you have it, folks.

所以，有你有它，夥計們。

That's a wrap for our Light Speed Learning Playlist.

我們的光速學習播放列表就到此結束了。

I hope you learned a lot

我希望你能學到很多東西

and that you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

而且你和我一樣喜歡這次旅行。

Now, go outside and get some sun.

現在，去外面晒晒太陽吧。