Solar Car

Solar car is an electric car that uses solar energy. This energy is gained from the solar panels called Photovoltaic on the upper surface of the vehicle. These Photovoltaic (PV) cells connect to provide 48-volt battery charge, and they convert sunlight directly into electricity, to power the vehicle. Solar cars are not listed as general cars you see everyday on the street, rather they are made primarily for racing, engineering purposes, or for a mere display, and the projects are usually funded by the government.

The technology used by these solar powered cars is the same of those used for satellites in international space stations, and it can also be seen in bicycle and automotives. The development of these special vehicles is very limited due to its power source that requires batteries and sun energy, therefore making them rather ineffective during the night. But most solar cars that were ever built have been used for the purpose of racing. Two of the most renowned solar car racing competitions are the World Solar Challenge and North American Solar Challenge, with its contestants being mostly university members.

The most vital part of a solar car is its electrical system. The electrical system serves to control all of the incoming and outgoing power. The battery packs for these cars functions completely the same to a normal car's petrol tank in storing power for future use. The kinds of batteries for solar cars include lead-acid batteries, Lithium ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, Nickel Cadmium batteries, and Lithium Polymer batteries. Solar cars are designed in a way to minimize friction and weight while maximizing strength at the same time. Usually, these cars are composed of titanium and composites to maintain the discrepancy.

The solar car's unique design makes it very unconventional, but not really suitable for use on public roads. Building a car like this is not as hard as it looks, because the materials necessary for development are not extremely high-cost. As a matter of fact, anyone can build their own solar cars if supplied with the right materials.