solar powered vehicles

solar powered vehicles

the past few years have seen a dramatic rise in the popularity of alternate energy sources,
particularly solar power. the technology which directly converts the sun's rays into electricity is proving
to be one of the more commonly used 'green' energies in the transportation markets. as research into
solar power continues to accelerate and designers are busy trying to challenge peoples ideas of how
vehicles that use it can look. over the next three pages is an eclectic selection of vehicles that use
'reliable' solar technologies.


cars, trucks and carts



‘eclectic’ by venturi, 2008
the roof of this three person car is lined with solar panels, which can produce enough energy to travel 7 KM
at almost 50 KM/H. the wind turbine on the roof of the vehicle can fuel the car for a journey twice as long.


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'car on a stick' by ross lovegrove, 2008
ross lovegrove’s ‘car on a stick’ concept sees solar powered vehicles lifted up into the air when
they are not being driven to function as street lights. hear what ross has to say about the project here







http://www.rosslovegrove.com
read the designboom interview with ross lovegrove (2006)


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‘i MIEV sport’ by mitsubishi, 2007
this battery powered car is partially charged via the solar panels on its roof and can reach speeds of
180 KM/H with a range of 200 KM. read full specifications of the car here.


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‘124 concept’ by honda, 2007



honda’s view of the future sees indivdual solar powered vehicles merging into one to use of carpool lanes.
read more


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'the solar bug' by freedrive 2007
yet another model which features solar panels on its roof top is 'the solar bug' by steve titus / freedrive.
the car has a top range of 55 KM/H and a range of almost 100 KM. read more



http://www.thisisbozeman.com
http://www.freedrive-ev.com/solarbugbrochure.pdf


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‘astrolab’ by venturi, 2006
this two-person car is topped off with ‘high-efficiency solar cells’. the ‘top of the range e-car’ can reach
an impressive about 120 KM/H and has a range of 110 KM.
http://www.venturi.fr


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these two solar vehicles, produced by honda were made to compete in the world solar challenge
an event which sees solar racers compete in australia every year.




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designs from the 2007 world solar challenge - this image shows the 'FH bochum team's car'




'solar fern'


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the ‘kudo cart’ from cruise car, 2006
see more designs form cruise car here


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'solar camper van' by verdier, 2006
this camper van soaks-up rays from the sun to power all your camping needs.






the design by verdier of candada was the recipient of a red dot award in 2006/07.
http://www.verdier.ca


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'solar powered' MX5, 2006
for this conversion japanese engineers removed the cars fuel tank and completely replaced it with a
electric motor and battery. the vehicle to run at a top speed of 100 KM/H with a maximum range of 30 KM.
read more - here and here


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in recent yeras 'green drivers' have added solar charging their electric cars.
more info on how to do so can be found here and here.


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a truck that runs on solar power stored by hydrogen fuel cells - more


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'solar-truck' from porta watts - more

Solar car, bus

Solar car and bus

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Tokai Challenger, the winner of the 2009 World Solar Challenge, with an average speed of 100.5 km/h over the 2998 km race.

A solar car is a solar vehicle used for land transport.
Solar cars combine technology typically used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries. The design of a solar vehicle is severely limited by the amount of energy input into the car. Most solar cars have been built for the purpose of solar car races. Exceptions include solar-powered cars and utility vehicles.
Solar cars are often fitted with gauges as seen in conventional cars. To keep the car running smoothly, the driver must keep an eye on these gauges to spot possible problems. Cars without gauges almost always feature wireless telemetry, which allows the driver's team to monitor the car's energy consumption, solar energy capture and other parameters and free the driver to concentrate on driving.
Solar cars depend on PV cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Unlike solar thermal energy which converts solar energy to heat for either household purposes, industrial purposes or to be converted to electricity, PV cells directly convert sunlight into electricity.^[1] When sunlight (photons) strike PV cells, they excite electrons and allow them to flow, creating an electrical current. PV cells are made of semiconductor materials such as silicon and alloys of indium, gallium and nitrogen. Silicon is the most common material used and has an efficiency rate of 15-20%.


A solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic (PV) cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy. The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part of a vehicle's propulsion. Solar power may be also used to provide power for communications or controls or other auxiliary functions.
Solar vehicles are not sold as practical day-to-day transportation devices at present, but are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. However, indirectly solar-charged vehicles are widespread and solar boats are available commercially.

Solar cars

Main article: Solar car

Solar cars depend on PV cells to convert sunlight into electricity to drive electric motors. Unlike solar thermal energy which converts solar energy to heat, PV cells directly convert sunlight into electricity.^[1]
Solar cars combine technology typically used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries. The design of a solar car is severely limited by the amount of energy input into the car. Solar cars are built for solar car races. Even the best solar cells can only collect limited power and energy over the area of a car's surface. This limits solar cars to a single seat, with no cargo capacity, and ultralight composite bodies to save weight. Solar cars lack the safety and convenience features of conventional vehicles                .
Solar cars are often fitted with gauges and/or wireless telemetry, to carefully monitor the car's energy consumption, solar energy capture and other parameters. Wireless telemetry is typically preferred as it frees the driver to concentrate on driving, which can be dangerous in such a small, lightweight car.The Solar Electric Vehicle system was designed and engineered as an easy to install (2 to 3 hours) integrated accessory system with a custom molded low profile solar module, supplemental battery pack and a proven charge controlling system.
As an alternative, a battery-powered electric vehicle may use a solar array to recharge; the array may be connected to the general electrical distribution grid.

Solar buses

Main article: Solar bus

Solar buses are propulsed by solar energy, all or part of which is collected from stationary solar panel installations. The Tindo bus is a 100% solar bus that operates as free public transport service in Adelaide City as an initiative of the City Council.^[2] Bus services which use electric buses that are partially powered by solar panels installed on the bus roof, intended to reduce energy consumption and to prolong the life cycle of the rechargable battery of the electric bus, have been put in place in China.^[3]

 
Solar buses are to be distinguished from conventional buses in which electric functions of the bus such as lighting, heating or air-conditioning, but not the propulsion itself, are fed by solar energy. Such systems are more widespread as they allow bus companies to meet specific regulations, for example the anti-idling laws that are in force in several of the US states, and can be retrofitted to existing vehicle batteries without changing the conventional engine.

Facts: Solar Transportation

Electric vehicles (EVs) are propelled by an electric motor (or motors) powered by rechargeable battery packs. Electric motors have several advantages over internal combustion engines (ICEs):

·         Energy efficient. Electric motors convert 75% of the chemical energy from the batteries to power the wheels—internal combustion engines (ICEs) only convert 20% of the energy stored in gasoline.

·         Environmentally friendly. EVs emit no tailpipe pollutants, although the power plant producing the electricity may emit them. Electricity from nuclear-, hydro-, solar-, or wind-powered plants causes no air pollutants.

·         Performance benefits. Electric motors provide quiet, smooth operation and stronger acceleration and require less maintenance than ICEs.

·         Reduce energy dependence. Electricity is a domestic energy source.

EVs face significant battery-related challenges:

·         Driving range. Most EVs can only go about 100–200 miles before recharging—gasoline vehicles can go over 300 miles before refuelling.

·         Recharge time. Fully recharging the battery pack can take 4 to 8 hours. Even a "quick charge" to 80% capacity can take 30 min.

·         Battery cost: The large battery packs are expensive and may need to be replaced one or more times.

·         Bulk & weight: Battery packs are heavy and take up considerable vehicle space.

However, researchers are working on improved battery technologies to increase driving range and decrease recharging time, weight, and cost. These factors will ultimately determine the future of EVs.

Did you know how solar cars work? It is easy to understand how a solar cooker or a solar water heater works, but how does a solar car work? What exactly happens within a solar car? How is the energy from the sun’s rays used to drive a vehicle? Here is the information on how solar cars work:

We know about solar energy being used as an alternative to electricity, but solar power as an alternative to fuel??? May be a little new on the ears to listen, but it is already implemented. Scientists all over the world are thinking about various alternatives to be used in place of fossil fuel, because of their fast depletion and also since they are a major contributor to pollution.

Just like using hydrogen, methanol and other bio-diesel as fuels for automobiles, people all over the world are contemplating about the use of solar energy as fuel for automobiles.

The working of a solar car would be very similar to the working of solar systems that are used as a substitute for electricity in many households. Solar panels are made up of semi conductors. Solar energy consists of particles called as photons. These photons are captured by the solar panels in what is called as photovoltaic cells. The panel then converts the captured solar energy into electricity.

Generally this energy is stored in batteries for efficiency and flexibility. A control system is used to regulate the power that goes to the electric drive motor, like the accelerator in a car.

 But unlike conventional cars, solar cars store the energy absorbed when braking rather than wasting it entirely to heat and noise.

The design and use of solar cars requires an approach that is radically different because of the limited power available to them. There would be a vast degree of variation from the traditional cars that uses fossil-fuel vehicles, with their relatively unlimited power. Aerodynamics and the weight of the automobile become significant design issues.

In order for the solar panels to achieve a good level of efficiency and constant supply of solar energy, solar panels require large area for installation. And hence batteries that are needed to store the sun's energy in the form of electricity are a large part of the weight in solar cars.

Without batteries, the car would definitely have difficulty with accelerating, climbing hills, overtaking cars, and in conditions where direct sunlight is obscured clouds, and during dusk.

The most economical and widely used batteries are lead-acid car batteries. A typical solar car would have anywhere from five to ten of these. Although advances have been made in battery technology, the ratio of how much energy these can store in comparison to their weight is not as good as for fossil fuels.

With solar cars, there is very little excess power to play with, so conveniences like heaters and air conditioners need careful thought.

It definitely does not come as a surprise when I say that solar cars are environmentally friendly and have zero emissions. But unfortunately at the moment, the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells is extremely limited. But as the time progresses, the efficiency of these photovoltaic cells with definitely improve. This will definitely make solar cars and in turn solar energy the most sought after fuel and car of the future. A sight close to reality in the new few years

           
Toyota's solar charging station will consist of solar cells capable of generating 100/200V of electricity. The station includes storage batteries to store the electricity generated until it is required to recharge electric vehicles. The station also has a communication facility to authenticate users' identification information, and to communicate the amount of charge and other data to a remote data centre. The communication system is expected to use LANs and Mobile networks.Earlier this year Toyota Industries unveiled a new public charging station for electric vehicles, which went on sale a few months ago at a cost of 450,000 Yen (around 4,600USD). Both the earlier public charging station and the new solar charging system were developed in collaboration with Nitto Kogyo Corporation. A variety of charging station options is needed to address the potential range limitations of electric vehicles, and a significant network of charging stations will need to be deployed to make electric vehicles viable for longer distance travel. Virtually all major car manufacturers are planning to launch electric or plug-in hybrid cars starting next year. Charging stations for electric cars are gradually becoming more widespread. In the UK the Department of Transport estimates there will be about two million electric vehicles by 2020. In the US, SolarCity and Rabbobank have created a partnership to provide free electric charging for electric vehicles traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles along Highway 101. SolarCity has also bought SolSource Energy, which is in the business of installing charging stations for cars. Toyota made the announcement and exhibited the charging station and battery charger at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show being held from October 23 to November 4, 2009 at Makuhari Messe, in Chiba City, Japan. The solar charger is scheduled for release late next year or in 2011 at a price of several hundred thousand Yen