Photovoltaic (PV) cells make solar cars a viable form of transportation. The cells use a medium such as silicon to transform sunlight into electricity. This electricity is used to power a battery, which gives power to the solar vehicle.
First Solar Car
William G. Cobb, a worker at General Motors, invented the first solar car in 1955. This solar car consisted of 12 selenium PV cells and a small Pooley electric motor.
Function
Solar cars have solar arrays (which consist of PV cells) mounted on top of the vehicle in order to convert solar light into electricity. Converters transform the PV energy into usable electricity. Once this electricity is converted, some of it is stored in the batteries and the rest of it is used to fuel the car.
Solar Car Racing
Hans Tholstrup and Larry Perkins pioneered solar car racing in Australia in 1983. This event spawned worldwide solar car racing competitions that helped promote public awareness about solar vehicles. Universities and automobile manufacturers compete annually in solar racing competitions.
Development
Venturi AstroLab, a French auto manufacturer, has developed one of the first commercially produced electric-solar hybrid cars.
Design
Most solar cars need a large surface area (the roof) to collect the sun's rays. That requirement dictates the design; many solar cars look like flat-topped turtles.
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