Solar-Powered Electric Vehicles might require less charging stops on a long trip

Hello people. This article discusses about how solar powered electric vehicles might require less charging stops on a long trip. Electric vehicles are highly environment friendly. However, battery recharging and range issues is a major issue with electric vehicles. Solar power may be helpful in solving this issue to some extent.

Electric cars and trucks equipped with photovoltaic cells on roof tops can convert energy from sunlight into electricity. Storing solar energy in batteries enables them to increase the travel range.

Several OEMs like Hyundai, Tesla and Toyota, are integrating solar cells into roofs. Also some start-ups such as Aptera Motors, Atlis Motor Vehicles, Fisker , Lightyear One and Sono Motors are also installing solar panels.

Some cars have up to seven square meters of space available on the roof for solar panels. Solar panels can be attached to vehicle bodies using mechanical fasteners. But to be aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing, automotive engineers prefer to integrate solar modules into body panels.

Are you looking to start your business in the electric vehicle industry? We provide software development, web application development, mobile application development, charging stations management app, electric vehicle fleet management software development, cyber security and all software services. Please check our home page here https://iwheels.co/

Ok. Let's get back to the article.

Lightyear One, a Dutch company plans to launch a long-range solar electric vehicle later this year. It will feature 5 square meters of integrated solar cells protected by super-strong safety glass.

According to Lightyear One, the solar roof will capture sunlight continually whether the car is moving or stationary. Lightyear One also claims that feature will deliver enough energy to cover an average of more than 70 percent of annual mileage.

Last year, leading OEM Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled a hybrid version of its popular Sonata sedan that is equipped with a roof-mounted system. It consists of a solar panel and controller that enable the vehicle to generate and store electricity in a battery.

According to Hyundai, the system can charge 30 percent to 60 percent of the battery per day, which can increase the vehicle’s travel distance by an extra 1,300 kilometers annually.

Benefits of solar panel addition to electric vehicles

The benefit of solar-powered vehicles is that they have a low cost of maintenance and they run longer on the same battery. This requires less charging stops. Solar energy is a renewable energy source and it is free.

The power that can potentially be generated on a car roof using solar panels has increased substantially, due to the continuous improvement of solar cell and solar module technology. Therefore a significant extension of the driving distance could be feasible.

Challenges in installing solar panels for automotive engineers

Installing solar panels presents numerous challenges to automotive engineers despite its tremendous potential. Few of them are as follows.

• Utilizing the most of the generated solar energy when the battery is full.
• Designing and manufacturing safe, reliable and cost-effective modules for vehicle integration.
• Decrease of power generation by cold weather and shadowing by other vehicles, in addition to buildings, bridges, trees and tunnels.

Further problems arise due to the curvature of car roofs. A strong curvature may lead to a significant irradiance mismatch and resulting cell power, which could reduce the yield of the solar module.

And, parking in partial shade near a tree may also mean that few panels can’t make enough power, which can affect the output of the whole array of solar panels.

Hope this article on how solar powered electric vehicles might require less charging stops on a long trip. To see the list of top electric cars in India, please visit https://iwheels.co/blog/top-electric-cars/