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Concept
Solar vehicle
Summary
A solar vehicle or solar electric vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic (PV) cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy.
The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part of a vehicle's propulsion. Solar power may also be used to provide power for communications or controls or other auxiliary functions.
Solar vehicles are not sold as practical day-to-day transportation devices at present, but are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. However, indirectly solar-charged vehicles are widespread and solar boats are available commercially.
Solar car
Solar cars are electric cars that use photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert sunlight into electrical power to charge the car's battery and to power the car's electric motors.
Solar cars have been designed for solar car races and for public use. Solar vehicles must be light and efficient to get the best range from their limited captured power. pound or even vehicles would be less practical because the limited solar power would not take them as far. Most student built solar cars lack the safety and convenience features of conventional vehicles and are thus not street legal.
The first solar family car, Stella, was built in 2013 by students in the Netherlands. This vehicle is capable of on one charge during sunlight. It weighs and has a 1.5 kWh solar array.
Stella Lux, the successor to Stella, broke a record with a single-charge range. During racing Stella Lux is capable of during daylight. At Stella Lux has infinite range. This is again due to high efficiency including a Coefficient of drag of 0.16.
The average family who never drive more than a day would never need to charge from the mains. They would only plug in if they wanted to return energy to the grid.
Solar race cars are often fitted with gauges and/or wireless telemetry, to carefully monitor the car's energy consumption, solar energy capture and other parameters.
Official source
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