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Posts Tagged ‘solar powered cars’

In todays current climate we all have to consider cutting down on luxuries etc, one fairly large part of our monthly budgets goes towards the cost of fuel we put in our cars.  This makes it so important to have a car that gets you the most mileage for your money.Fuel efficient cars being the future of tomorrow we have many more options than we did even five years ago.  There are several types of fuel efficient cars you might want to consider two in particular are the Citroen and Peugeot.Both these cars are available in the UK and there are several great deals around. 

A lot of fuel efficient cars are run on diesel.A diesel car tends to be more economical on fuel consumption per mile.Several diesel engines offer an average of 30 miles or more to the gallon.That is significant especially with a 13 gallon tank.400 miles can be achieved from one tank of fuel.

A Volkswagen beetle or the Jetta are also really fuel efficient cars.A VW beetle can achieve about 27 miles per gallon.That is quite a lot when you consider trucks and other vehicles weigh in at 20 to 25 miles per gallon.

However the most fuel efficient car is going to be the hybrid.A hybrid uses solar power to propel the vehicle.The engine will use the solar power and keep recycling the power for as long as the sun is showing.  The fuel in these cars is for powering the engines solar power system as well as for driving when the solar power has finished.Electric motors are the same.You have fuel just in case you run out of electricity to convert to power.In some of these vehicles you can go more than 30 miles, sometimes even over 100 miles without using more than a couple of gallons of petrol.  This equates to hours of driving without needing to top up with fuel.

The prices of the fuel efficient cars are decreasing.They are definately becoming more affordable.The Prius is one of the most sought after hybrids.The mileage and comfort of this car is amazing.When looking for a new car then fuel efficiency must surely be a large consideration!

Builders who understand the facts about solar powered cars will have an easier time comprehending their benefits and the challenges of producing them.  Solar cars are incredibly beneficial because they do not use standard fuel, but instead run on renewable solar energy.  They do not put out the same kind of air pollution as a combustion engine, so they aid the environment.  They also may have a financial benefit for consumers, as increased gas prices have made conventional cars far more expensive to drive.

How Solar Cars Work

Knowing the facts about solar powered cars is key for consumers who are considering a purchase.The energy conversion begins as the light energy from the sunshine is transformed into a more concentrated form of energy.  Solar cells resemble a sandwich in their construction — they have two layers of silicone that are separated with a thin, insulating material.  The sunlight creates an electrical charge within the cell.  One side contains the positive charge while the other side is negative.

A lone solar cell can produce only a small amount of electricity, so there will need to be multiple cells to power a vehicle.  Multi-celled solar panels contain many small cells in one place, increasing the amount of energy potential.

Starting to Build a Solar Car

There are several facts about solar powered cars that you need to know before undertaking your own project to build a solar vehicle.Though you may be able to fuel a large vehicle, it might be easier to begin with a smaller one.  Not only will it have less energy needs, but creating the solar car on a small scale might help you create the larger version later.  First you will need to decide what materials you are going to choose to build the body out of.  Then you will have to learn to mount the wheels and the motor onto this body.

Once you have constructed the basic vehicle, you can begin to prepare the solar system.  You must check that all the connections are sound and strengthened.  Then, you will determine how the panels should best be mounted.It can be helpful to explore the basic design and structure of other solar cars when you are undertaking this step, to ensure that you have done everything you need to do. 

Testing Solar Cars

Keeping the basic facts about solar powered cars in mind during the testing phase will help you ensure that your vehicle is safe and functions at its best.  Begin by testing the vehicle in bright sunlight, to see if all the connections are completed properly.  The car will need plenty of adjustments at first, although they might be simple connection problems.  As you move from a small or model vehicle to a full-size car, the connections will be more complicated so learn as much as you can now.

There are commercial solar cars that you can purchase if you do not want to build your own.  However, creating a solar car on your own is an interesting way to learn the mechanics of solar energy.