Tips on Making a Solar Powered Car
June 22, 2009 – 9:50 pm by MarinaHanes
Transforming your current car into a solar powered machine or even building one from scratch is quite a task, especially if you don’t even know where to begin. However, even if you have an expert to assist you as well as the desire and funding to make this project happen, there are some basics you should be aware of. In the end, you can have an eco-friendly transportation that will save you money in the future.
Building a solar powered car can be a $12,000 or more expense. A solar array, batteries, motor controller, power trackers, motor and wheel are the main components. The solar arrays receive sunlight, which goes to the power trackers where it’s converted into energy for the batteries to use.
Solar cells or prefabricated solar panels are often used to make solar arrays. If you’re looking to cut costs, terrestrial-grade cells can be used. However, keep in mind that these cells are less efficient. An issue with solar cells is that they need to be wired together, which involves careful planning if you want to get the most efficiency. Lastly, power trackers vary in the amount of energy they require.
Lead-acid, lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium batteries can be used. The first option is the least expensive. The voltage of energy your system uses will determine the number of batteries you need.
Having the basic parts of a solar powered car in place is important, but there are other factors you need to plan ahead for. For example, there is the instrumentation (state-of-charge meter), suspension, brakes, steering, tires and hubs. Because there are complex parts to solar cars, some people choose to seek a professional who specializes in building and conversion. If building a car is a new concept for you, start with smaller toy cars until you gain enough experience or help from knowledgeable friends to create a standard solar car for driving purposes.
Tags: building a solar cat, solar cars, solar conversion, solar powered cars