How Does it Work?
According to their creators, they may play a part n decreasing reliance on burning fossil fuels like diesel and petrol. While this fact may be true, it is also true that a solar powered cars run most effectively when the sun is shining. However, unlike some solar-powered machines, they don’t run solely on the power of the sun—they use batteries as a power source. Most solar powered cars have a backup battery and electricity is stored inside the batteries. This power can be utilized when it is cloudy and there is no sunlight. So while a solar-powered car might seem like a bad idea for night drivers, it is true that these vehicles can still work even without sunlight. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are the batteries generally used for solar powered cars because common batteries that are used in the average car are too heavy for solar powered cars.
The Batteries
When solar cars are sitting still, the solar panels charge the batteries up. The electric motors are charged directly by the batteries and the batteries have time to charge up if the vehicle is not in use before it is needed. You can also charge the batteries in a solar powered car when it is parked. These batteries will allow the car to work within a certain range—from about 80 to 170 volts.
.The motor in a solar power car works similar to remote control toy cars. As mentioned, solar power cars use batteries to make sure there is a source of electricity available but the car can also convert light into electricity by using a device called a solar cell. The vehicle carries solar cells which are generally mounted on the the roof to make sure that they are exposed to the sun.
What Are they Made of?
Solar powered cars are built from really light materials, mostly carbon fiber and aluminum. Because of their materials, it has been concluded that solar powered cars don’t have the same safety features or capabilities as normal cars, which is a cause for concern. Safety features you won’t find in these solar powered cars include anti-lock brakes, stability control, and airbags. For most drivers this is a huge concern, which is why this kind of car isn’t being marketed to the general public right now. Aside from the essential safety features, solar powered cars don’t include radios or air conditioning either. Although these cars are still in the first stages of development, these are obviously features that need to be considered.
Although the solar powered car is missing much of what a normal car requires for safety and comfort, the design allows for lightweight, fast driving. For right now, these cars are mostly being used for races. They usually only have two seats and three narrow wheels designed to reduce friction to the ground. While these cars obviously aren’t on the market for normal consumers at the time, the technology behind the cars has definitely spurred interest and conversation. Some normal cars are trying incorporate the solar technology by adding solar panels to the roof, however this doesn’t give the car enough power. There may soon be a day when a version of the solar powered car is marketed and sold to normal families driving to soccer practice and going to get ice cream. While many alterations would need to be made to get to this point, it’s an interesting phenomenon that could soon be making waves in the automotive world.
About the author -:
This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer from Arizona who loves writing about business, finance, women’s interests and technology.Dixie gathered her information for this article with help from the North Shore Driving School Ltd. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
