1. SOLAR AUTOMOBILES
THE FUTURE OF VEHICLES…

2. What is Solar Automobiles?
A solar automobile is an ELECTRIC
VEHICLE powered completely or
significantly by direct SOLAR
ENERGY. PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) cells
contained in SOLAR PANELS or SOLAR
ARRAYS convert the SUN's energy directly
into ELECTRIC ENERGY. The term "solar
automobile" usually implies that solar
energy is used to power all or part of a
vehicle's PROPULSION. Example of a Solar Car

3. Who First Discovered Solar Cars?
The first solar car invented was a
tiny 15-inch vehicle created by
William G. Cobb of General
Motors, Called the Sun-mobile.
Cobb showcased the first solar car
at the Chicago Powerama
convention on August 31, 1955.
The 1st solar car,made up 12 selenium photovoltaic
cells and a small Pooley electric motor….

4. AN OVERVIEW
 Powered by sun’s energy.
 Solar array collect the energy from the sun and converts it into usable
electrical energy.
 Power trackers convert it into the required voltage.
 Motor controller sends power to the motor.
 Divided into four:-
• Driver Controls & Mechanical Systems
• Electrical System
• Drive Train
• Body and Chassis

5. DRIVER CONTROLS & MECHANICAL
SYSTEMS
Steering
• Precise steering alignment
Brake
• Designed to move freely by eliminating brake drag
• Hydraulic disc brakes
Suspension
• front suspension- Mac-Phearson struts or double A arms, require less vertical clearance
• rear suspension is a trailing arm, similar to that in motor cycles
Wheels
• rolling resistance
• three or four wheels similar to those of bicycle tires.

6. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Made up of batteries and
power electronics.
Batteries
• Lead-Acid
• Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)
• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad)
• Lithium Ion
 Peak Power Trackers
• Maximize the power
• Protect the batteries from being
damaged by overcharging
• Efficiencies above 95%
Motor Controllers
• Decides how much current
actually reaches the motor
• Up to 90% efficient

7. DRIVE TRAIN
Consist of the electric motor and the means to by which the motor's power
is transmitted to the wheel.
Power generated is less than 5 hp.
Only one wheel in the rear of the car is driven by the electric motor.
Motor types:-
• Brushed DC
• Dual winding DC brushless
• Induction
Dual-winding DC brushless
• Used as an electronic transmission
 Types of transmissions
• Variable ratio belt drive

8. BODY
Goals
• Minimize the aerodynamic drag
• Maximize the exposure to solar
insolation
• Minimize weight
• Maximize safety
Body Shapes
• Unified aero body and panel
• Fixed or tilting, flat panels with a
separate driver cab
• Catamaran shape
• Uniquely designed shape

9. How Does It Works?

10. COMPONENTS
 Solar Arrays or Solar Panels
Power Trackers
Batteries
Motor & Controllers

11. Solar Arrays or Solar Panels
• Solar Arrays collects
the energy from the
Sun and converts it
into usable Electrical
Energy and sends it
to the Power Tracker.

12. How Solar Arrays changes Sunlight to
usable Energy
• At first, the solar arrays
collect the sun-light
together.
• After collection, It
immediately converts Solar
Energy to Electrical Energy
and sends it to the Power
Tracker
SUN
Solar Array
Power Tracker

13. Power Trackers
Power Trackers converts
the solar array voltage to
the system voltage.
After conversion, it sends
the Voltage to the battery.
Power Tracker Batteries

14. Battery
The Battery store the energy
from the Power Tracker and
makes the available for the
motor’s use.
This energy is send to the
motor and controller to
make the run car.
Battery
Motor

15. Motor & Controllers
• The motor controller adjusts
the amount of energy that
flows to the motor to
correspond to the throttle.
• The motor adjusts the amount
of energy that flows to the
throttle and uses that energy to
run the wheels.

16. LIMITATIONS
• Only 1000 W/m2 of energy reaches the earth’s surface in an hour of
“peak sun”.
• Average solar array configuration span is 8m².
• Total amount of energy hitting the solar car during peak sun is
8KWh/m².
• Average solar cells are only able to convert 12% to 18% to
electricity.
• The total amount of converted energy available to a car consists of
700-1500 Watts.
• Three primary areas of energy loss consist of :
Aerodynamic drag, braking, and rolling resistance.

17. Group Members
1. RITURAJ BASU (Roll-34)
2. SK MINHAJ BIN FEROZE (Roll-46)
3. SOURAV BASAK (Roll-47)
4. SURAJ KUMAR PRASAD (Roll-52)

18. THANK YOU