In an effort to make vehicles independent of the gas station and outlet, against the backdrop of the fight for the environment, the idea of creating a car that runs only on solar energy was born.
Although, given the blow to the same environment caused by the manufacture of silicon solar cells (90% of panels are made from silicon), the argument in favor of nature is questionable. Independence and free “fuel” on which the solar car runs are a more understandable motivation.
To a familiar car is like to the stars
The appearance of the solar car is very funny: a streamlined shape with the largest flat top surface on which solar panels are placed. Apart from a slight external resemblance, these creations of engineering do not have much in common with conventional cars. The small usable surface for placing solar cells and their low efficiency (maximum only 20-22%) forces designers to extremely reduce weight, using lightweight materials and abandoning everything “superfluous”. Even a wheel sometimes falls under this category, making the electric vehicle a three-wheeler.
For the same reason, a sunmobile, which cannot carry a heavy load, while an ordinary car, comparable in size to a sedan, can accommodate 4-5 people with sufficient comfort, and a load of up to 300 kg or a little more is not a problem for it. In the case of a “sun-eating” vehicle, there are completely restrictions. As a rule, the interior space is designed for 1-2 people, but there are exceptions - the Dutch concept Stella - the world's first 4-seater electric car.
The rigidity of the heliomobile body does not have the best effect on safety. Conventional cars have metal stiffeners, a special design and different impact resistance, due to which the impact energy is absorbed for the sake of minimal deformation of the interior. What prevails here so far is not passive safety, but ensuring the life of the very idea of creating solar transport. Of course, with the achievement of a sufficiently high efficiency of photocells, the situation will change.
Basic concepts of a solar car
- A sunmobile usually includes:
- An energy storage device that allows you to move at night or in heavily cloudy conditions, when the already low specific power of solar radiation decreases;
- An electric motor, which is often installed directly on the drive wheel(s) to eliminate power loss during transmission. Most often, low-speed DC motors are used, with an efficiency of 98%;
- A control unit that distributes the received energy (the excess is accumulated in the battery) and regulates the operating parameters of the solar battery (cooling, orientation to the sun);
- Chassis.
For the most efficient conversion of sunlight into speed, powering some components and power reserve, you need:
- Good aerodynamics;
- Large area for placing photovoltaic cells;
- Light weight electric vehicle.
The first two points determine the bizarre shape of the body, reminiscent of an insect or an airplane wing. In some concepts, the wheels are covered with fairings. A sunmobile can’t even dream of a solid ground clearance. The roof is usually made as a single unit with the hood and trunk. Some concepts resemble golf carts - two-seater, without windows or doors. And not everyone has a full-fledged roof over their heads (for example, the French Venturi Astrolab).
For the sake of lightness of construction, among others, materials such as carbon fiber and composites with carbon inclusions are used.
The sunmobile is also demanding on tires. It is better suited to those with a low rolling resistance coefficient. Michelin is recognized as their best manufacturer.
Bright representatives of the solar car family
The leader in terms of capacity is the Solar Team of 22 students from the Dutch Eindhoven University of Technology, which created the Stella heliomobile weighing 380 kg. However, this development is not entirely powered by solar energy. It receives half of its charge from a household or high-voltage electrical network. Stella can also “give” the energy received from its batteries back to the utility grid, or power household appliances. An interesting point in the Dutch development is the steering wheel, the size of which can intuitively change depending on the speed.
The battery capabilities provide Stella with a range of up to 600 km, and a maximum speed of 110 km/h. The invention of the students is still only a concept; before the mass production of this solar car, more and more work is required.
Astrolab is the first serial solar car of the French company Venturi. Its cost is impressive – € 90,000. It is driven by an air-cooled asynchronous motor. Power 16 kW, torque 50 Nm. The engine takes power from nickel-metal hydride batteries weighing 110 kg. Astrolab is assembled primarily from composite materials, with a carbon fiber chassis reinforced with aluminum inserts. The weight of the whole car is 300 kg.
The area of the solar cells is small - 3.6 square meters. m., their total power is 600 W. They can fully provide the electric vehicle with “fuel”, but if there is a lack of energy reserves, they can be recharged from a regular outlet. Maximum speed is 120 km/h, cruising range in autonomous mode is 110 km.
Solar battery as an option
Global automakers such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Toyota, as an option, install solar cells on the roof, the energy from which is spent on navigation and air conditioning. Considering the high price of photovoltaic elements and the complexity of their installation (controllers, modifications to the body, since the heavy roof does not benefit its rigidity), the cost of the option is about $2,000. The main “application” of a solar roof is to cool the car’s interior with air conditioning during long periods of parking under the sun’s rays. Such a machine, of course, is not a solar car, but the idea of powering, albeit not the entire vehicle, but only some of its elements from the sun, brings it as close as possible to such.
Despite the limitations associated with solar transport, the idea of creating a full-fledged solar vehicle continues to develop. The main limiting factor is the low performance of photocells, but discoveries in this area are constantly appearing, and who knows, maybe in a couple of decades gas stations will no longer be relevant...
The development of technological progress and the desire of mankind to preserve the environment became the main catalysts for the invention of cars operating on the basis of solar energy. They have positive and negative characteristics, but in practice they have not yet become widespread, which is due to a number of reasons.
General characteristics
The operating principle is based on the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. The latter becomes the power source for the electric motor installed on the car. If you connect such an engine, auxiliary electronic devices responsible for full operation in different driving modes and a certain number of batteries that provide power reserves, this will bring the car closer to a regular one.
The first car based on solar batteries was created in the mid-twentieth century. This event took place in the USA. But in those days there was no technology to create powerful batteries. The produced batteries had a low capacity, which stalled the development of this automotive industry.
In the 90s of the last century, new attempts to design “solar” cars appeared. By increasing the efficiency of batteries, inventors were able to significantly increase the amount of energy they generate. Energy-intensive batteries can create the necessary supply of engine power for driving over fairly long distances.
The development of this area of the industry was positively impacted by the use of innovative materials to create bodies, improved transmission systems, and electric power units. The first ones are made from durable lightweight plastic elements. The transmission contains parts that have the lowest degree of rolling resistance. Instead of conventional electric motors, they are used brushless motors. They contain poles made of rare-earth magnetic alloys. Some manufacturers install in-wheel motors - power units located on the drive wheels. Such a scheme significantly increases the efficiency of the transmission mechanism.
The power reserves of solar energy have collectively increased due to the release of flexible batteries. Now they can be mounted on any body element.
What kind of solar cars exist?
Almost every leading company producing automotive equipment is working on the invention of the ideal solar car. The most famous are the brainchildren:
Venturi.
The car of this French company Ecletic has a power of 22 hp. It is capable of traveling about 50 km without recharging at a speed not exceeding 50 km/h. It uses a backup power source, which is a wind generator. In addition, the car can be charged from the network. Another of her inventions is the Astrolab car. This model has a power of 16 kW and a speed of 120 km/h. Its weight is 300 kg, and the battery is located on the roof. University of Eindhoen.
Local engineers have created the futuristic family car Stella. Its range is 600 km. The body elements here are made of aluminum.
Green GT.
The Swiss have contributed to progress. Their invention, the Solar World GT, has a power of 400 horsepower. The car is capable of accelerating to 275 km/h.
The production of solar vehicles is also carried out on the territory of the Russian Federation. In St. Petersburg, a device weighing 200 kg was created, which is due to the use of a lightweight composite to construct the body. Externally, the model resembles a catamaran and is characterized by the ability to reach speeds of up to 150 km/h. The industry leaders are the Japanese. Their solar-powered car, the Tokai Challenger 2, won the race in 2011. Its body consists of carbon fiber. The weight of the car is only 140 kg, and the speed reaches 160 km/h. It is equipped with batteries from the famous Panasonic company.
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Machines operating on solar energy are endowed with positive characteristics:
- increased environmental safety;
- no restrictions on the supply of the power source;
- long service life;
- compact dimensions;
no need to refuel at special stations;
low operating costs (free refilling).
There are also disadvantages that outweigh the advantages. This includes high cost and the impossibility of launching mass production, reduced power and speed compared to conventional cars. There are no workshops in the world to service such vehicles yet.
Solar electric vehicles in practice These machines were not used in practice. This is hampered by the cost of the car and the low efficiency of solar batteries. Not every car enthusiast is willing to shell out a couple of million dollars for a vehicle that has flaws.. A certain Venezuelan company promises to produce light-duty passenger cars and trucks powered by solar power. So far these are only promises, but experts are confident in the future of the machines in question.
The energy of the sun is an inexhaustible and renewable source, which, if used correctly, opens up limitless possibilities for humanity.
The energy crisis raging in the world is doubly unpleasant for motorists: in addition to a sharp increase in prices for car service services, fuel costs are also increasing. Naturally, in this case, it makes sense to study the possibility of purchasing/remaking a car that would move using renewable (alternative) energy sources, including solar energy.
History and progress in the development of “solar cars”
The first one, which covered a more or less significant distance, was the car of the Dane H. Tolstrup, with the help of which the inventor managed to cross Australia in 1982. True, now his achieved speed of 20 km/h seems ridiculous. Therefore, the Dream car, introduced at the beginning of the 21st century, already reached a speed of 135 km/h. It seems that there is progress, and some progress at that. But…
Moving solar car thanks to the presence of photoconverters. They are responsible for the process of storing solar energy, which then drives the engine. And this is where problems arise:
- the efficiency of photocells does not exceed 12%;
- lightweight brushless or low-speed motors (built directly into the drive wheels) are available only in prototypes, and their production has not been put into production. Which is understandable, given the small demand for such engines;
- The weight of the car, on which its energy efficiency will depend, cannot be constantly reduced, since sooner or later this will adversely affect the strength and safety of the car. Carbon fiber bodies are very expensive;
- Sunmobile tires must have a minimum rolling friction coefficient and at the same time have sufficient grip on the road surface. Michelin has already mastered the production of such tires (Radial X model), but we are not talking about their mass production yet.
The only thing construction enthusiasts have succeeded in is solar powered cars- this is how it is in body design. With the help of 3D modeling and subsequent blowing of the finished sample in a wind tunnel, the streamlining of the car practically reaches the maximum of current technical capabilities. Perhaps this is why the best examples of “solar cars” have very unusual shapes and outlines (see Fig. 1).
Existing solar car designs
The production of prototypes of such machines is carried out by such automotive giants as BMW, Toyota, Mercedes, as well as a French company Venturi, Swiss company Green GT and etc.
Developments are proceeding in two directions:
- creation of a mixed design of a solar-powered car, which in cloudy weather could be recharged from the mains and operate as a simple electric car;
- creating a vehicle in which the sun's energy would be used for some auxiliary needs: for example, for the operation of a navigation system or a car's air conditioner.
As you can see, the issue of creating a “clean” car powered exclusively by solar energy is not yet on the agenda. Meanwhile, experimental designs of such cars have already been tested and are offered for sale to very wealthy car enthusiasts who are already fed up with traditional designs.
The most successful technological solutions for a solar-powered car are:
- « Astrolab"(see Fig. 2) from the company Venturi– maximum speed 120 km/h, highway range 110 km, panel area with photoconverters 3.6 m2, price – 92,000 euros;
- « Sunswift eV"(see Fig. 3) - a joint brainchild of Australian companies Bilstein and Ohlins. The car accelerates to a speed of 75 km/h, with a power reserve of 300 km. The price has not been announced.
Is it possible to convert an existing car into a “solar car”?
Chinese student Zhu Zhen Lin, a student at West Virginia University (USA), managed to transform into solar car an ordinary production car (see Fig. 4). The car has a range of up to 70 km, with a maximum speed of about 40 km/h.
The car's solar panels consist of 22 photovoltaic converters installed on the roof, sides and hood of the car. Of course, this design cannot be called particularly aesthetic, but such a car has the necessary functionality when driving along city streets. And most importantly, the Chinese student spent only $2,400 on all the refurbishment.
Thus, there are prospects for cars using solar energy. The best way they can be implemented is as a combined propulsion system, which will not depend on weather and atmospheric conditions.
It has been known for a long time that photo panels can be installed on car roofs. But few people think that a full-fledged solar-powered car has already been created, which runs only on solar energy. Moreover, these are not isolated examples of amateur inventors, but completely modern developments of large companies.
Moreover, there is even a special championship in which only solar-powered cars have the right to compete. It's called the World Solar Challenge and takes place in Australia. According to the regulations, participants must overcome the 3000 km separating Darwin from Adelaide (that is, cross the entire Australia from north to south), without using any additional energy sources. This championship is held every two years, in 2013. 40 teams from more than 20 participating countries competed in it. The victory was then won by the Dutch Nuon, its car maintained an average speed of 90 km/h, despite bad weather conditions.
Features of solar cars
Thus, solar-powered cars are no longer a myth, but an ordinary reality. True, the name “car” is not entirely correct; in fact, it is an electric car, because it is equipped with an electric motor. Photo panels are placed on the roof of the car, which supply the motor with energy. There are also powerful batteries needed to store energy. Moreover, as a rule, manufacturers provide a combined option for charging battery packs. That is, if necessary, they can be recharged from a special electrical network. This is done to increase the reliability and service life of the solar car.
The benefits of the widespread use of such solar electric vehicles are obvious. This includes the absence of environmental pollution, ease of use, and independence from gas stations. However, there are a number of problems. First of all, the efficiency of modern solar cells is not high enough (and the cost of high-performance prototypes is too high). In addition, this is the need to reduce the weight of the car as much as possible without reducing its strength, that is, the use of fairly expensive composite materials.
Nevertheless, engineers continue to actively work in this direction, since the promise of solar vehicles is beyond doubt. This means that an effective, but not too expensive, solar battery and durable but lightweight compositions for the housing are needed (after all, the weight of the electric motor and batteries cannot be lowered below a certain level).
What types of solar cars are there?
Solar-powered cars stand out from the norm. Their design most often resembles some kind of fantastic devices of the future, and not completely real, working machines. This is explained not so much by the imagination of the developers, but by practical necessity. After all, for such a car to fully operate, you need quite a lot of solar panels, so the coverage area has to be increased.
Stella - family solar car from the Netherlands
In Holland (Eindhoven Technical University) they created a concept that can easily claim the title of “the world's first solar-powered family car.” The prototype is called Stella and seats four people. Moreover, it not only accommodates, but also allows them to fit quite comfortably in the cabin. Moreover, the car also has a quite spacious trunk. The Stella body is made of carbon fiber and aluminum, so the concept weighs only 380 kg with a length of 4.5 m and a width of 1.65.
Flexible high-performance panels are installed on the roof of the car, and control is carried out using a “smart steering wheel” and a touch screen (instead of the usual buttons). Stella's maximum speed is 110 km/h, and in the dark, with fully charged batteries, it can travel 600 km. By the way, in 2013 Stella participated quite successfully in the World Solar Challenge.
Racing technology for the masses
Venturi has launched the Astrolab solar car. Moreover, this is not just a concept development, it is a full-fledged commercial model that anyone can purchase. It is designed for two passengers. The technical characteristics of the car, created on the basis of Formula 1 racing cars, are quite sufficient for comfortable everyday driving.
The power of the asynchronous motor is 16 kW, the maximum speed is 110-120 km/h, the weight of the car itself is only 300 kg. Astrolab is equipped with 7 kW/h batteries and a total weight of 110 kg.
A solar car is not a new idea, but it has never been fully realized due to objective features. This is the low power of solar-powered cars, and there were certain problems with the efficiency of solar charging for a car that almost the whole world tried to solve. And one cannot say that everything was in vain - the dynamics, especially in recent years, can only be encouraging. It is quite possible that the solar car will replace modern electric cars.
Solar car - development through racing
The idea of a solar-powered car was seriously approached only in the second half of the last century (they experimented with all their might even in the USSR - at the RAF plant, with the minibus model 2203), and the date of birth of a more or less full-fledged solar car should be recognized as 1982.
It was then that the Dane Hans Tolstrup - inventor, entrepreneur and traveler - made a three-thousand-kilometer raid through Australia on the Quiet Achiever prototype, developing an average speed of just over 20 km/h. The principle is simple: photocells, converting light energy into electrical energy, charge batteries, which, using an electric motor, drive the wheels. Naturally, solar charging for a car is constant and continuous until clouds appear or it rains.
And then Tolstrup decided to develop this promising direction and established the World Solar Challenge - the first solar car race. In Australia, where the sun shines almost 300 days a year. Those interested responded quickly, the first rally took place in 1987, and then every two years (the process of developing and producing a new prototype is not the fastest task), more and more daredevils came to the Green Continent.
Already in 1996, the average speed of the winning crew approached 100 km/h, and the “maximum speed” was 135 km/h. It only got better from there.
Solar car - Indian practicality and Dutch functionality
India can easily compete with Australia in terms of favorable weather. University students in Manipal, with the help of the Tata concern, designed an interesting concept car. Their solar car is a fiberglass body on a tubular frame, with a curb weight of about 600 kg, capable of traveling one and a half hundred kilometers at a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
The power supply and control system is based on a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. Moreover, the main task facing the Indians was the possibility of commercial use of this solar-powered car! Not speed, power or comfort, no - rather, it is an attempt to replace pedicabs in the foreseeable future.
But in Holland they built a solar car with a radically opposite philosophy. A student team from Eindhoven took on the Stella project, a family car with a design reminiscent of a very understated minibus. They tried to make the car as light as possible (only 375 kilograms!), as aerodynamic and comfortable as possible.
The first generation of this solar car without any problems won the World Solar Challenge in the Cruiser class (as close as possible to real cars), the second - Stella Lux - is being prepared for the rally in October 2015.
This promises to be a step towards mass production of solar cars: a range of 1,100 kilometers on a single charge, with a maximum speed limited to 125 km/h. Branded feature: the built-in navigation system also automatically selects the most optimal route based on the weather forecast.
Solar car - English cunning and German adventurism
The British also had their own ambitions in terms of building a cool solar-powered car. But they were predominantly sporting and competitive in nature. Students from Cambridge were able to simultaneously design the most aerodynamic car, and at the same time make solar panels adaptive - so that not a single photon of energy was wasted! The car can travel 140 km/h - and also serves more as a prototype for future production developments.
Naturally, Germany could not stay away from the topic of developing a solar-powered car. In 2012, German students from Bochum set their sights on a round-the-world trip of almost thirty thousand kilometers (!) in a miniature two-door SolarWorld GT coupe made of carbon and aluminum - weighing only 260 kilograms!
The maximum speed is 120 km/h, the range without recharging is 400 kilometers, with recharging it is three times more. The car turned out to be nice, although the guys had a hard time on the roads of Russia and Ukraine - they had to make a pit stop and change the tire. Although there is a silver lining: additional solar charging for a car will never be superfluous.
Solar car - Australian respectability
But in Australia they decided not to waste time and immediately set their sights on creating not a simple solar-powered car, but the most natural sports coupe! The Immortus project from EVX Ventures is a futuristic design, two electric motors and acceleration from zero to hundreds in seven seconds! The maximum speed is limited to 150 km/h; without the dynamics of electric motors, the car is capable of city driving at a speed of 60 km/h, and this is perhaps almost the ideal operating option for relaxed Australians.
But another Australian project - Sunswift eVe - is still only a prototype. But not a simple one, but a record-breaking prototype: students from New South Wales, for half a million dollars, created a car capable of traveling 500 kilometers on a single charge with an average speed of more than 100 km/h - and although the maximum speed is slightly inferior to the Immortus project, the second “Australian” is also planned to launch into small-scale production. Apparently there is demand.
Solar car - distant or near future
Major automakers, having received a sensitive blow to the nose with the release of Tesla, are probably preparing a retaliatory strike. And a solar car may well become one.
For example, Ford has already tried to install photocells on the roof of the S-Max minivan, and the resulting concept looked pretty decent. Well, small manufacturers have a chance to repeat the success of Elon Musk and his electric car. What is needed for this? Innovation, innovation and more innovation.
New lightweight, strong polymer materials for the body and possibly wheels, as well as more efficient photovoltaic cells and electric motors. Pleasant and pleasing to the eye design and functionality comparable to a good C-Class - this is the key to success.
Take it for yourself and tell your friends!
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