Solar Powered Cars

How to Maximize Solar Panel

The efficiency of a solar panel depends on the material used to make the solar cells that are placed on the surrounding frame.

What is a solar cell?

A cell is part of a solar panel which collects solar radiation light overhead sun, and then converted into electrical energy.

The main materials found inside a cell that performs the actual creation of electricity are called semiconductors.

In general, the effectiveness of any given cell is measured by the total amount of radiation / sunlight falling on it.

Conventional silicon solar panels

In just over 90% of photovoltaic panels that are located at the top of the roofs of today, the semiconductor is called crystalline silicon. This is a very efficient cell. Silicon is one of the highest degrees of conversion efficiency. Convert 15-20 percent of the light reaches its cell.

Thin film solar panels

The new wave of the future is coming into the world of solar panels, and is called thin film. The cost to manufacture these panels is much lower than the crystalline silicon panels, but the problem with these is that even closer to the silicon solar panels, in terms of conversion efficiency.

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium, indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) solar panels are the two main leaders of the thin film solar technologies, with an average around 11 percent efficiency. This remains substantially surprising since most of the thin film solar cells lie in the range of 4 percent to 10.

The fill factor

When power is measured, the fill factor is defined as the ratio between the real power and the product maximum attainable open circuit. This is a very important parameter to consider when analyzing and evaluating the performance of solar cells. A typical commercial solar cell has a fill factor greater than 0.70.

Grade B cells have a filling factor typically between 0.4 and 0.7. Another important consideration is that the factor is undoubtedly one of the most important parameters for energy. The solar cell containing an element of high see much less loss of power when it is purchased. Briefly, the higher the filling factor of energy, the solar to be generated.

Cheaper solar power as an energy study

Although in most countries generate electricity from renewable sources is expensive, high energy costs on the island, supported by the dependence on oil-production allows alternative technologies like solar photovoltaics, cost the same or less than crude oil and other fossil fuels.

An analysis prepared by the electrical engineer Agustín Irizarry revealed even now a photovoltaic system installed on a Puerto Rican home generate electricity cheaper than selling the Electric Power Authority (ESA).

In reaching this conclusion, Irizarry, who is an expert in electric power systems, considered the most recent audited financial statements of ESA and quotes from installers of photovoltaic systems.

"In Puerto Rico, photovoltaic electricity is cheaper than the EEE sell us oil. Why people think it is more expensive? I can not understand, "he explained.

According to the financial statements at the end of fiscal year 2010-2011, the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of a residential customer was of 23.5 cents.

According to quotes, a photovoltaic system in a residence is $ 5 per installed watt. Therefore, a two-kilowatt photovoltaic system costs $ 10,000 and the solar panels are guaranteed for 20 years.

Considering that the PV system receives only four hours of sun during the next 20 years would produce 58.400 kilowatts (eight per day). If those 58.400 kilowatts are divided between the $ 10,000 initial investment, the cost per kWh would be 17 cents.

Irizarry said the cost per kWh of a photovoltaic industry would be lower (13.7 cents). The kWh cost of 28 cents round today.

Less "externalities"

But gave no numbers, the electrical engineer Efrain O'Neill also noted that large wind farms (wind) are already competitive with fossil fuel systems.

O'Neill noted that although in principle prove expensive renewable energy, environmental and social costs, known as "externalities" are much more expensive than fossil fuels.

"The United States accounted for external use of coal at $ 63 million annually ... And that study, commissioned by the 'National Research Council', only focused on health costs, so we have to estimate the environmental costs, "said the Puerto Rico clarify that no such analysis.

'Bitter' experience in Spain

In economic terms, the use of renewable energy in Spain has not had the expected results because the government chose to subsidize companies that installed technologies and the cost per kWh has not fallen as much as anticipated.

The subsidy-50% - amounting to $ 31.000 million. To pay that debt, the Spanish government plans to increase birth rate by 20%, said Fermin Peace, Secretary General of the International Association for Energy Law, based in Paris.

He explained that in Spain, unlike here, the price of electricity generated from fossil fuels is lower than that of renewable energy. This led the Spanish government to subsidize companies to alternative technologies. But apparently there was a "premium" on the promise to sell to these companies and so is on the table a possible rate increase.

"Renewable energy sources have their problems: some polluters, no continuity, are costly and face technical problems. So far, not replace conventional energy, "said Paz.

Solar Cells Consisting of Nanocrystals

Still working on improving solar technology, a group of scientists from the University of Southern California, created a new solar cells built by Nanocrystals looking liquid and could be used to print or paint any plastic surface or color.

The design of new cells is small enough to fit 250 million head of a pin. The manufacturing process is much cheaper than the current silicon solar cells, but the efficiency is much poorer, so we can see this technology in the market will be much improved.

That is why the technology will take many years to reach the market. Scientists are still working to the next step which is to replace this with another harmless compound.

Concept car with integrated solar panel Mazda wins contest

Always looking to the future and the use of renewable and clean energy vehicles, Mazda in partnership with the Aurora Vehicle Association has chosen as winner of Survivor Aurora 2050 model developed by designer Ali Jafari, Solaris Concept Car.

The car which resembles the visual used by Luke Skywalker on Tatooine (Star Wars) is the result of a project team inicado Aurora in 2010. In addition to focusing on the use and conversion of solar energy into electricity, longed for a Project pragmatic and feasible for use in a few years. It's quite different from what normally occurs in the universe of concepts.

Design and potential

The design of the Aurora Solaris comes from a partnership between staff and students of the Aurora design course at Monash University. The result is a car with a futuristic aesthetic and optimized for solar energy. Its surface is also used for absorption and can be lifted up and placed on top position for capture.

Solaris is able to reach a speed of 150 km / h. In its initial design was intended to allocate up to four passengers. It hampered the performance of the vehicle in terms of speed and useful area of sun exposure, making researchers decided so far put only one seat.

Even with this temporary limitation on the project, those involved in research at the Aurora Car Solaris intend to expose it in the 2013 World Solar Challenge, an event in which scientists from around the world gather to show their inventions powered by solar energy.

Aurora accepts suggestions

If you are interested in the project and would not want to wait until 2013 to see it live, you can know where the car will be updates on the official website of Aurora Team. And if you have suggestions about design and technology that could be used in Solaris Aurora, the Aurora team Team is open to suggestions which can be sent by the same site.

Amazing Solar Powered Cars

Amazing Solar Powered Cars

Solar Powered Cars

Amazing Solar Powered Cars

Saleen S5S Raptor

Saleen S5S Raptor

The Saleen S5S Raptor is a sports car revealed by Saleen, Inc. on March 20, 2008 at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

The Raptor is intended to be equipped with a 5.0-liter supercharged Saleen engine (similar to that used on the 2008 S302E) which will yield 650 hp. This will allow it to accelerate to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds or less and complete the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds. Expected retail price is $185,000, roughly $400,000 less than the S7.Development has stopped as a result of the 2008 recession, and the future of the project is uncertain.