Solar Cars in Our Future

Eilat – Ludwigshafen – Ljubljana , December 2014

Team: SOLAR CARS RENAISSANCE

Authors: Olga Tsessarski, Miguel Thomos, Jaka Petrovčič

Introduction

Photovoltaics developing alternative

Work towards energy autarchy of the cities

Clean solar energy fuel for vehicles

How solar cells work?

Two different types of semi-conductor layers (sillicon)

Two layers together => P-N junction

Difference in electrons causes current

Brief history

The first solar car was invented 60 years ago

In 1981 Tholstrup built a solar powered race car in which he crossed Australia

Breakthroughs through the yearsFirst solar car

Brief history

New cars been developed…

World Solar Challenge invented by Tholstrup, an australian solar car inventor

Modern racing solar car

Advantages of solar cars

NO AIR OR NOSIE POLLUTION

The purchaser does not have to purchase USUAL fuel

Cheaper and less regular

maintenance service than

conventional cars (Blue, 2014)

Current problems

People are not driving solar cars now because:

None commonly available in market

Too small

Design is not appealing to the consumer

Not reliable, fuel problems

Dream cars?

Nowadays solar cars

Would you buy one like this?

The car solution

4 m2 of semi-flexible solar panels8h recharging from the sun

Grid battery charging:4 h completely,20 min for 80% full battery

• 1000 kg full

• 150 km range

• 30000 $

• 4 seater

• 120 km/h top speed

• 80 kW motor (Bosch)

Comparison

Drag coefficient 0.2

115 kW

Drag coefficient: 0.28

Electric motor Petrol motor

80 kW

The city solution

Picture 6:• State’s investment into solar panels near parking lots

• Recharging cars from the grid(plug in), for a price

Conclusion These solutions would slowly convince the population to change their way of transport.

Change the way of thinking

Less consumptionate society

Sources:Blue, M.-L. The Pros and Cons of Using Solar

Energy for Cars. [Online] 2014. [Cited 23 Nov 2014]. Accessible at the website: <http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/pros-cons-using-solar-energy-cars-41000.html

First solar car. [Online] 2014. [Cited 26 Nov 2014]. Accessible at the website: <http://www.automostory.com/first-solar-car.htm>

Interview with Dr Velko S. Rus, professor of social psychology at the Faculty of Arts of Ljubljana (http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/en ), in November 2014

Pictures: Picture 1:

http://www.iuses.eu/materiali/eng/STUDENTS_HANDBOOKS/Transport_handbook.pdf

Picture 2: http://www.automostory.com/images/first-solar-car.jpg

Picture 3: http://hight3ch.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/SolarCar.jpg

Picture 4: http://t1.ftcdn.net/jpg/00/29/18/94/400_F_29189417_CXN92sIrBvr6vLsIEDgk12NOlGqe9cbB.jpg

Picture 5: http://www.youdrivewhat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/yd17.jpg

Picture 6: http://www.mazda.co.uk/assets/master/cars/all-new-mazda3/hatchback/exterior/colourator/cars/1/m3_allnew_hatchback_arctic_white.png

Picture 7: http://crte.org/images/parking/08-parking-lot1.jpg

Picture 8: http://cdn.wonderfulengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Solar-Roof-Tiles.jpg