This document provides an overview of solar electric vehicles. It describes how solar arrays collect energy from the sun and convert it into electrical energy, which is then sent to a motor controller and motor. The vehicle is divided into five systems: driver controls and mechanical systems, electrical system, drive train, solar array, and body and chassis. It discusses the components and design considerations of each system, materials used, and limitations of solar power. The future outlook is that solar vehicle expertise could enable advances in electric vehicles and use of solar power more broadly.

1. SOLAR ELECTRICSOLAR ELECTRIC
VEHICLEVEHICLE
MAJOR ASSINGMENT
Submitted to: Mr. Amardeep Kumar
Submitted by: Shahrukh
UID:- K12105

2. AN OVERVIEWAN OVERVIEW
 Powered by sun’s energyPowered by sun’s energy
 Solar array collect the energy from the sun andSolar array collect the energy from the sun and
converts it into usable electrical energyconverts it into usable electrical energy
 Power trackers convert it into the required voltagePower trackers convert it into the required voltage
 Motor controller sends power to the motorMotor controller sends power to the motor
 Divided into fiveDivided into five
•
Driver Controls & Mechanical SystemsDriver Controls & Mechanical Systems
• Electrical SystemElectrical System
• Drive TrainDrive Train
• Solar ArraySolar Array
• Body and ChassisBody and Chassis

3. Borealis III Racing with the Sun
- Photo by Anonymous.

4. DRIVER CONTROLS &DRIVER CONTROLS &
MECHANICAL SYSTEMSMECHANICAL SYSTEMS
 Standard featuresStandard features
 SteeringSteering
• Precise steering alignmentPrecise steering alignment
• SUN RUNNER utilized a rack and pinion systemSUN RUNNER utilized a rack and pinion system
that was attached to the steering arms by means ofthat was attached to the steering arms by means of
tie rodstie rods
 BrakeBrake
• Designed to move freely by eliminating brake dragDesigned to move freely by eliminating brake drag
• Hydraulic disc brakesHydraulic disc brakes
• Regenerative brakingRegenerative braking

5.  SuspensionSuspension
• front suspension- Mac Phearson struts or double A armsfront suspension- Mac Phearson struts or double A arms
• Mac Phearson strut requires a large vertical clearanceMac Phearson strut requires a large vertical clearance
• Double A arms require less vertical clearance, butDouble A arms require less vertical clearance, but
consist of more componentsconsist of more components
• rear suspensionrear suspension is a trailing arm, similar to that inis a trailing arm, similar to that in
motor cyclesmotor cycles
 WheelsWheels
• rolling resistancerolling resistance
• three or four wheelsthree or four wheels
• wheel designs are similar to those of bicycle tireswheel designs are similar to those of bicycle tires

6. ELECTRICAL SYSTEMELECTRICAL SYSTEM
 Made up of batteries and power electronicsMade up of batteries and power electronics
 BatteriesBatteries
• Lead-AcidLead-Acid
• Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)
• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad)Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad)
• Lithium IonLithium Ion
• Tesseract uses 512 li-ion batteriesTesseract uses 512 li-ion batteries

7. Energy Flow Diagram of a Solar Car

8. SOLAR ARRAYSOLAR ARRAY
 made from silicon, bymade from silicon, by
joining an n-type and a p-joining an n-type and a p-
type semiconductortype semiconductor
 grouped into space gradegrouped into space grade
and terrestrial gradeand terrestrial grade
categoriescategories
 EncapsulationEncapsulation
 ArrayArray
 SUNRUNNER'S arraySUNRUNNER'S array
consisted of 14,057 razor-consisted of 14,057 razor-
blade sized, 16% efficientblade sized, 16% efficient
space grade cells.space grade cells.

9. Solar arraySolar array

10. LIMITATIONSLIMITATIONS
• Only 1000 W/m2 of energy reaches the earth’s surfaceOnly 1000 W/m2 of energy reaches the earth’s surface
in an hour of “peak sun”in an hour of “peak sun”
• average solar array configuration spans 8m²average solar array configuration spans 8m²
• total amount of energy hitting the solar car during peaktotal amount of energy hitting the solar car during peak
sun is 8KWh/m²sun is 8KWh/m²
• average solar cells are only able to convert 12% to 18%average solar cells are only able to convert 12% to 18%
to electricityto electricity
• the total amount of converted energy available to a carthe total amount of converted energy available to a car
consists of 700-1500 Wattsconsists of 700-1500 Watts
• three primary areas of energy loss consist ofthree primary areas of energy loss consist of
• aerodynamic drag, braking, and rolling resistanceaerodynamic drag, braking, and rolling resistance

11. BODY & CHASSISBODY & CHASSIS
 goalsgoals
• minimize theminimize the
aerodynamic dragaerodynamic drag
• maximize the exposuremaximize the exposure
to solar insolationto solar insolation
• minimize weightminimize weight
• maximize safetymaximize safety

12.  Body ShapesBody Shapes
• Unified aero body and panelUnified aero body and panel
• Fixed or tilting, flat panels with a separate driver cabFixed or tilting, flat panels with a separate driver cab
• Catamaran shapeCatamaran shape
• uniquely designed shapeuniquely designed shape
 MAIZE & BLUE and SUNRUNNER are catamaranMAIZE & BLUE and SUNRUNNER are catamaran
shaped.shaped.

13. MATERIALS USEDMATERIALS USED
 composite materialcomposite material
 combination of a filler material sandwiched betweencombination of a filler material sandwiched between
layers of a structural materiallayers of a structural material
 structural materialsstructural materials
• Carbon fibre, Kevlar and fibre glassCarbon fibre, Kevlar and fibre glass
 filler materialsfiller materials
• Honeycomb and foamHoneycomb and foam
 bonded together using epoxy resinsbonded together using epoxy resins

14. THE FUTURETHE FUTURE
IN THE SHORT TERMIN THE SHORT TERM
 terrestrial application of the rovers that NASA uses interrestrial application of the rovers that NASA uses in
spacespace
 Data collection in a hot, sun rich areaData collection in a hot, sun rich area
 Carry-over of expertiseCarry-over of expertise
• substantial advances to the design of electric vehiclessubstantial advances to the design of electric vehicles
• better motors, better use of batteries, and better motorbetter motors, better use of batteries, and better motor
controller designcontroller design
 composite hull carcomposite hull car
 spread the word about the use of harnessing solarspread the word about the use of harnessing solar
powerpower

15. THANK YOUTHANK YOU