We all know how hot it can get in a car. You spend hours driving, and the heat is unbearable! Last year alone, there were over 1,000 deaths due to heat exhaustion from being left in a parked vehicle.
So what do we do? We buy solar powered car fans! These devices are affordable and easy to install on your dashboard or windshield…But does this solution actually work?
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What Do Solar Powered Car Fans Do?
In general, solar powered car fans are designed to pull extremely hot air out of your car if it has been sitting in the sun. Rather than blasting the AC when you get in the car, a solar fan will keep your cars interior more temperate.
You can also run a solar car fan while waiting inside your car or sitting in traffic. This can save you from having to blast your air conditioner or keep your window rolled down.
If you live in a hot climate and have no way of parking your car under shade while at work for example, this could be extremely beneficial as it can keep your car up to 20 degrees cooler than outside.
Solar Car Fans: Some Recommendations
CYDZSW Car Solar Powered Window Exhaust Fan
For those looking to maintain a fresh environment inside their cars, the CYDZSW Car Solar Powered Window Exhaust Fan might be a solution worth considering. Here are some of its features and benefits:
- Health Benefits: The fan promotes air convection, ensuring that you and your family can enjoy a healthier, toxin-free driving environment.
- Eco-friendly & Energy Saving: Powered by Polycrystalline solar panels, this fan doesn’t require an external power source for charging its battery. Users have the flexibility to control the use of solar cells separately.
- Ease of Installation: The exhaust fan is designed to easily mount on the car window. With an adjustable rubber strip and a plug-free design, installation is straightforward, ensuring there’s no damage to the vehicle. Moreover, its design allows for continuous operation even on rainy days.
- High-Speed Exhaust: With a three-duct and three-motor design, the fan boasts an impressive exhaust speed, rotating at a rapid 4500 revolutions per minute.
- Cost-effective: Currently priced at $38.88 after a 20% discount from its list price of $48.88, the fan offers good value for its features. Plus, if you’re a Prime member, there are additional perks and offers to avail.
MUXAN Solar Powered Car Ventilator
For individuals seeking an environmentally-friendly means of maintaining a comfortable and fresh atmosphere within their vehicles, the MUXAN Solar Powered Car Ventilator Window Exhaust Fan offers several notable features:
- Eco-friendly: Being solar-powered, this ventilator is not only energy efficient but also utilizes environmentally safe materials. It stands as a testament to MUXAN’s commitment to green and sustainable products.
- Rapid Detoxification: On sunny days, the fan spins quickly, requiring just 10 minutes to effectively remove harmful gases from the car’s interior.
- Deodorization: Beyond detoxifying, this fan is adept at expelling odors, ensuring that the air inside the car remains fresh and pleasant.
- Promotes Health: Like the CYDZSW model, the MUXAN fan also promotes air convection, facilitating a toxin-free and safe driving environment for you and your passengers.
- Enhanced Fuel Efficiency: The product claims that when the car’s interior temperature is kept in check by the ventilator, there’s reduced need for air conditioning during drives. This can potentially lead to better fuel efficiency over time.
- Affordably Priced: Priced at just $19.98, this fan offers a budget-friendly solution for those looking to enhance their car’s ventilation.
How Effective are Solar Powered Car Fans?
- Energy Efficiency and Eco-Friendliness: Solar fans for cars utilize the sun’s energy, making them an environmentally friendly option. They don’t rely on your car’s battery or fuel, meaning they can operate without contributing to your vehicle’s emissions or consuming additional energy resources.
- Temperature Regulation: These fans are primarily used to circulate air in a parked car, helping to reduce the internal temperature. By venting out hot air, they can prevent the greenhouse effect that commonly occurs in parked vehicles, making your car more comfortable to return to.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Once installed, solar-powered car fans have minimal operational costs. They do not require fuel or electricity from the grid, making them a cost-efficient option in the long run.
- Ease of Use and Installation: Solar fans are generally easy to install and can be placed in an optimal position to catch sunlight, such as on the dashboard or attached to a window. They often come with simple, user-friendly designs that require minimal maintenance.
Considerations
While solar fans for cars are effective in many ways, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Weather Dependency: Their efficiency largely depends on the amount of sunlight available. On cloudy days or during nighttime, their performance might be limited.
- Limited Cooling Capacity: These fans are effective for maintaining a moderate temperature, but they are not a replacement for traditional air conditioning systems in vehicles. They work best when complementing other cooling methods.
- Durability and Quality: The effectiveness of a solar fan for a car also depends on the quality and durability of the product. It’s important to choose a fan with good build quality and reliable solar panels for optimal performance.
Can Solar Powered Car Fans Cool Your Car Off More Quickly?
Typically, a solar car exhaust fan won’t cool your car down as quickly as air condition will but since they are designed to work while your car is parked for long periods of time, they will keep your car several degrees cooler by pulling the hot air out.
Again, the idea behind a solar car fan isn’t to cool your car off quickly but to keep it significantly cooler while sitting out in the sun while you are in the store or at work.
If you live in a hot desert climate and typically leave your car parked while at work or running errands, this could be extremely useful. They also come with optional remote controls for easy access to turn on/off the fan without getting out of your vehicle!
What Can Solar Car Fans NOT Do?
Solar powered car fans are not designed to work while you are driving. If you have your solar fan on while the car is in motion, it can actually create a drag and decrease your gas mileage.
They also should not be used as an air conditioner replacement since they are only designed to pull excessive hot air out of your car rather than cool the entire interior.
How Do Solar Powered Car Fans Work?
Solar powered car fans work by using a solar panel to collect energy from the sun. This energy is then stored in the fan’s battery and can be used to run the fan to cool your car off while you are parked.
The solar panels on these fans are typically very efficient, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your fan running all day long or worrying about it running out of energy!
This makes them ideal if you live somewhere that get exceptionally hot during the summer months…looking at you Phoenix…and will come in handy during your work day while your car is sitting in the sun baking.
One misconception is that solar car fans cool the air inside your car, but they actually pull the hot air out. This is the same concept as opening a window vs rolling down your windows.
When you roll down your windows, hot air from outside mixes with cooler air inside and doesn’t actually cool it off, but if you open up all of your windows or at least front two to let some fresh summer breeze in…it will make a world of difference.
Instead, a solar car fan will pull the hot air out of your vehicle to keep it cooler. This not only makes being inside your car much more comfortable if it has been sitting in the blazing sun for a while, but also cuts the strain on your cars AC.
What Disadvantages Do Solar Powered Car Fans Have?
Even the best gadgets with the best intentions can have some negatives, so here is a quick list of some negatives to consider when it comes time to make a purchase.
- Not Meant To Be Used While Your Car Is In Motion: The biggest issue with solar powered car fans is that they are not designed for use while the car is in motion. This means you can’t drive around town running errands and expect them to cool down your vehicle.
- Not One Size Fits All: Another thing to keep in mind, especially when buying online, is that you need to make sure the fan is compatible with your car body. There are a variety of different solar car fans on the market so it is important to do your research before making a purchase.
- Can Only Do So Much: While every little bit helps, even the best solar car fans can have trouble cooling your car down in extremely hot climates if it has been sitting in the sun for a while. Still…I think cutting the inside temperature of your car even a few degrees can make your life so much more comfortable when it’s time to hop in your car after it’s been sitting for a while.
Final Thoughts
Solar Powered Car Fans are a great way to keep your car cool while it is parked in the sun. These gadgets can be used all summer long, but even the best ones have their limitations that you need to consider before making an investment.
Still…if you live somewhere that gets ridiculously hot during the summer months and don’t want to come back to a boiling vehicle after running errands or at work for 8 hours, these fans might make life feel just a little bit more comfortable!