SOLAR CARS

AN OVERVIEW Powered by sun’s energy Solar array collect the energy from the sun and converts it into usable electrical energy Power trackers convert it into the required voltage Motor controller sends power to the motor Divided into five Driver Controls & Mechanical Systems Electrical System Drive Train Solar Array Body and Chassis

Borealis III Raycing with the Sun - Photo by Colin Burnett

DRIVER CONTROLS & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS Standard features Steering Precise steering alignment SUNRUNNER utilized a rack and pinion system that was attached to the steering arms by means of tie rods Brake Designed to move freely by eliminating brake drag Hydraulic disc brakes Regenerative braking

Suspension front suspension- MacPhearson struts or double A arms MacPhearson strut requires a large vertical clearance Double A arms require less vertical clearance, but consist of more components rear suspension is a trailing arm, similar to that in motor cycles Wheels rolling resistance three or four wheels wheel designs are similar to those of bicycle tires

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Made up of batteries and power electronics Batteries Lead-Acid Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad) Lithium Ion Tesseract uses 512 li-ion batteries

Energy Flow Diagram of a Solar Car

Motor Controllers Peak Power Trackers maximize the power protect the batteries from being damaged by overcharging efficiencies above 95% Motor Controllers decides how much current actually reaches the motor up to 90% efficient

DRIVE TRAIN Consist of the electric motor and the means to by which the motor's power is transmitted the wheel power generated is less than 5 hp only one wheel in the rear of the car is driven by the electric motor motor types brushed DC dual winding DC brushless induction

Dual-winding DC brushless Types of transmissions used as an electronic transmission Types of transmissions variable ratio belt drive hub motor

SOLAR ARRAY made from silicon, by joining an n-type and a p-type semiconductor grouped into space grade and terrestrial grade categories Encapsulation Array SUNRUNNER'S array consisted of 14,057 razor-blade sized, 16% efficient space grade cells.

Solar array

LIMITATIONS Only 1000 W/m2 of energy reaches the earth’s surface in an hour of “peak sun” average solar array configuration spans 8m² total amount of energy hitting the solar car during peak sun is 8KWh/m² average solar cells are only able to convert 12% to 18% to electricity the total amount of converted energy available to a car consists of 700-1500 Watts three primary areas of energy loss consist of aerodynamic drag, braking, and rolling resistance

BODY & CHASSIS goals minimize the aerodynamic drag maximize the exposure to solar insolation minimize weight maximize safety

Body Shapes MAIZE & BLUE and SUNRUNNER are catamaran shaped. Unified aero body and panel Fixed or tilting, flat panels with a separate driver cab Catamaran shape uniquely designed shape MAIZE & BLUE and SUNRUNNER are catamaran shaped.

Chassis space frame Semi - monocoque or carbon beam monocoque welded tube structure to support the loads and the body body is a lightweight, non-load bearing, composite shell Semi - monocoque or carbon beam composite beams and bulkheads to support the loads integrated into a non-load bearing composite belly pan monocoque uses the body structure to support the loads

MATERIALS USED composite material combination of a filler material sandwiched between layers of a structural material structural materials Carbon fibre, Kevlar and fibre glass filler materials Honeycomb and foam bonded together using epoxy resins

FALLING SHORT characteristics that a commercially viable car extremely reliable comfortable be able to function on its own maintain the required speed amenities such as air conditioning, radio, and power locks and windows Solar cars Limited seating capacity Frequent flat tyres Often was incapable of maintaining highway speeds

THE FUTURE IN THE SHORT TERM terrestrial application of the rovers that NASA uses in space Data collection in a hot, sun rich area Carry-over of expertise substantial advances to the design of electric vehicles better motors, better use of batteries, and better motor controller design composite hull car spread the word about the use of harnessing solar power

IN THE LONG RUN Electric car Increase in petroleum prices short distance commutation improvements

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