Electric car. Electric cars recharging their batteries using solar power. The photovoltaic panels at upper right convert sunlight into electricity which then feeds into the cars through a connection such as the orange lead at lower centre. Electric vehicles produce no gaseous emissions, reducing air pollution in towns and cities. In addition, solar cells can generate electricity without producing airborne emissions. Photograph of a recharging facility owned by the Sacramento Municipal Utililty District in California, USA. This facility, opened on 31 July 1992, was the first to be also made open for public use in the western United States.