Solar Powered Cars

Solar powered cars are the electric cars that are powered by solar energy. This solar energy is obtained by the solar panels that are placed on the top of the car. Special types of cells known as Photovoltaic cells are used to convert the solar energy into the electrical energy that drives the solar car.

Solar cars are primarily used as demonstration cars and not as a day-to-day regular car. The most important part in a solar powered car is its electrical system. This system controls all the power that comes into and leaves the system. Most of the solar cars have very complex data keeping systems that monitors the whole electrical system. The solar powered cars have a very distinct design because these cars are designed to provide minimum drag, maximum exposure to the sunlight, minimizing weight and to make the car as safe as possible. The chassis of a solar car is designed in such a manner that it maximizes the strength of the car and at the same time it keeps the weight of the solar car as low as possible.

Some of the solar cars have three wheels and some have four wheels. Different solar powered cars have different types of suspension because of their different chassis and different bodywork. The rear suspension used in solar cars is generally the same suspension found in motorcycles. Solar cars have a very good breaking ability and good ability to adjust; due to this ability disc breaks are used in solar cars. Steering systems also vary from car to car. The steering wheels are designed in such a way that it should result in less tire wear and less power loss.

Solar cars contain a system that have bunch of voltaic cells grouped together. This system is known as solar array. This system helps the cells by protecting them from weather and breakage. On a sunny bright day a good solar array can produce over 2 kilowatts.

The solar powered cars achieve their best performance by the virtue of its aerodynamically designed body, and its light weight which are not possible in day to day used vehicles. One of the applications of solar powered car is as buggies in golf course, which are parked under the sunlight and used relatively little.
It is very unlikely that with the current technologies, the solar powered cars will be available to common mass. However, solar cars are essentially electric cars and thus it can contribute in development of battery cars and hybrid cars.