SOLAR POWERED VEHICLES Morgan Stelli

HOW THEY WORK  Solar cars harness energy from the sun, converting it into electricity  That electricity then fuels the battery that runs the car's motor  Instead of using a battery, some solar cars direct the power straight to an electric motor.

SCIENCE OF SOLAR PANELS  Solar panels work because of photovoltaic cells (PVC)  PVCs convert the sun's energy to electricity  Made up of semiconductors, usually silicon, that absorb light  Sunlight's energy frees electrons in the semiconductors, creating a flow of electrons  That flow generates the electricity that powers the battery or motor

Tokai Challenger The 2009 winner of the World Solar Challenge, held on a 1,864-mile course in the Australian desert outback. It had an average speed of 63 mph

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University of Michigan Infinium Built for speed and setting records, not passengers Finished first in 2010 American Solar Challenge

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ADVANTAGES  Non-polluting  Renewable energy  Other than installing and repairing solar panels, no cost

DISADVANTAGES  Cannot power large vehicles  Cannot typically reach highway speeds  A lot of panels necessary to power small car  Expensive to fix if broken  Expensive to install

WORKS CITIED  "Solar-powered Car Charging Stations Open in St. Paul." MPR News. Web. 12 May  "How Can Solar Panels Power a Car?" HowStuffWorks. Web. 12 May  vehicles.html