Effective Use of Solar Energy in Vehicles

Solar 1
EFFECTIVE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IN VEHICLES
By (Student’s Name)
Professor’s Name
Course
University
City
Date

Solar 2
Abstract
There was a first solar competition planned in Australia in the year 1987 for triggering the
development of vehicles powered by solar for all interested individuals in the world. The form
that day onwards, there has been a number of technologies that are being used in making the
solar vehicle, improving its functionality into imitating the performance seen in conventional
vehicles. However, limitations still get encountered during the vehicle’s process of development.
Particularly in regards to its management of energy. The energy in this vehicle comes from
battery technology and photovoltaic technology. Energy management in this scenario refers to
the effective and judicious consumption of energy for the purpose of maximizing the vehicle’s
performance. Generally, the systems used in managing energy in solar vehicles are required to
have electrical power flowing from the photovoltaic cells to the various loads that should be
optimized and monitored. The behaviours of the connected loads greatly influence the strategies
and utility planning for the developed soar vehicle. Therefore, proper management of loads is
one strategy for drawing a good amount of power from the PV modules. Devices such as the
Maximum Power Point Trackers should be implemented between batteries and the PV modules
for boosting the charging rates of batteries. Additionally, there has to be a back-up battery within
the vehicle’s system for the elimination of unexpected shutdown of systems. This brings one
back to the importance of determining appropriate systems during the design stages for ensuring
that the solar vehicle is getting maximum energy from its system. This paper aims to review the
systems used in managing solar car energy.
Keywords: Batteries, MPPT, Energy Management, Photovoltaic

Solar 3
1. Introduction
Solar vehicles are vehicles which make use of photovoltaic modules to source their electrical
energy for charging their batteries. These vehicles are known to be green due to their zero
emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Generally, figure 1 shown below identifies
the basic system for energy management applicable in solar vehicles (Saravanan et al., 2016).
The sun’s rays force the PV modules to increase their energy state and therefore developing
Direct Current. The electricity produced is taken in by the photovoltaic controller which take sit
for storage within the batteries. In these cars, the batteries function to power DC motor for the
generation of mechanical energy important for moving the vehicle.
The process looks simple but there are difficulties in ensuring the management system is
working. The complication increases when the vehicle should be moving for non-stop for long
distances since the sun rarely maintains its intensity. In theory, the battery’s charging rate should
equalize the consumption of current by the motors in rotation (Mohamed et al., 2019).
Figure 1 above shows an example of a solar vehicle system sued in energy

Solar 4
On the other hand, this situation is not the operational ideal conditions since the weather is
unpredictable other than various influencing factors such as slope, speed and condition of the
road, therefore, the solar vehicle is considered complex and impractical. If only there were better
systems that manage the energy consumption thereby catering for the needs of the car
(Aravindan et al., 2015).
The introduction of solar vehicles has also allowed competition to be conducted on these
vehicles’ functionality. Hence, invoking researches as the activities look to develop the car. In a
span of 20 years, these solar cars are developing remarkably (Grandone et al., 2016). Their
speed, weight and technique for managing energy are improving. In the past, the solar vehicles
composed of three wheels, 2 existing in the front for suspension and steering systems and a 1 at
the back with its own motor. The body shape of the vehicle allows it to reach 120 km/h as well
as covering long distances.
Figure 2 above identifies a solar car.