1. SOLAR CARS

2. 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

3. Borealis III Raycing with the Sun - Photo by Colin Burnett

4. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Energy Flow Diagram of a Solar Car

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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.

13. Solar array

14. 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 Watts
three primary areas of energy loss consist of
aerodynamic drag, braking, and rolling resistance

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

16. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. THANK YOU