Solar Car

{{Hint|Newer work is found at Book - Solar Car

• Solar Challenge 2 time winner - 2009, 20011 - Tokai Challenger - 62 mph average for Solar Challenge Winner- 1.8 kW PV array, 30% efficient, 352 lbs, 16'7" by 5'5" - [1]. 90 square feet of area.
• Increase that to 24 feet long x 8 feet wide (192 square feet) (2 kw) - like a trailer - to double the area. Use non-exotic solar panels to keep cost reasonable with solar. Add 20 kg of lithium ion batteries for 4 kWhr [2] of power, and a small backup engine (2kW) - for one hour of up to
• PV panels - 1650x990 cm is 17.5 sf. See slide 12 of Open_Source_PV_System#Initial
• 11 of these panels fit on the 192 sf area. Each is 285 watts for 3100 W total. Under normal conditions - power should be 1.5kW. If we double that with an internal combustion engine for 3-4kW - we are pretty good to go for sppeed.
• The main challenge in using Open_Source_PV_System#Initial PV panels is that they weigh 19kG each - so 209 kg total. That is 460lb already. Small engine would be 5 lb, and batteries at 44 lb - with frame + drive at 240 more lbs. That makes for a 750 lb vehicle.
• Can we get frame to within 240 lb? Yes, with carbon fiber composites. But aluminum would be tough. Suggestion: 3D printed frame as skeleton for carbon fiber layup.
• Frames - carbon fiber is 5x less weight than steel frame, and 2x less than aluminum. [3]