Solar car motor kits ordered by seven countries

[LMagic007]

Solar car motor kits ordered by seven countries

Building on developed knowledge of advanced magnetic materials and expertise in high-efficiency motor design, CSIRO is producing solar car motors, in kit form, for a range of international and local users.
The motor achieves 98 per cent efficiency and is generally accepted as the most efficient in solar car racing.

This lightweight, highly efficient electric motor designed by CSIRO sits inside the wheel of the solar powered vehicle. The motor achieves 98 per cent efficiency and is generally accepted as the most efficient in solar car racing.

Solar car motor kits ordered by seven countries (Achievement)

[Lord Burdock]

Originally Posted by LMagic007

Solar car motor kits ordered by seven countries



Solar car motor kits ordered by seven countries (Achievement)

Thanks for posting this article. I always tell people that it would be a good idea to have solar panels built into the roofs of our cars.

[LMagic007]

Yes, I think it's only a matter of time before that happens. If they can get self repairing cells working properly, then that could be a bonus. Also the spray on nano solar cells might have potential.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...al-repair.html

http://solarcells.wordpress.com/2008...n-solar-cells/

[BestTimesNow]

The American Solar car race is currently underway. Teams compete in a 2400 mile drive from Dallas, Texas to Calgary, Alberta.


American Solar Challenge - Home Page


Here's some photos of the race:

Flickr: macbobumr's Photostream

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A Prius has a solar panel on the roof. Unfortunately it only powers the radio or something like that.

[LMagic007]

I've seen figures around the 300 watt mark bandied around. Thus potentially 1 kwh per day on average. i.e. if you don't park under cover. It might help power the radio and air conditioning.

[debs]

So how come we can have things like solar powered planes yet Toyota can only power the aircon (partly) with solar? Seems like it should be able to do much more. Is it a cost/affordability thing?

[LMagic007]

Hmmm

The electric planes are only prototypes I guess and need much more development to be applicable to the market place. The other thing though is that in the very light aircraft market, the engines don't need to be that powerful and thus the electric engines don't' need to draw that much power as some have pretty good glide ratios. The light aircraft also fly at a lower altitude so require less energy that way, all other things equal of course like good VFR weather flying conditions.

As I have seen, it seems planes can get comparable fuel efficiency to cars or even better, per gallon equivalent of energy per seat, be it fuel or electric. Of course it's horses for courses. We are talking light or even modern commercial aviation and not jet fighters. i.e. some commercial aircraft can get in the area of 100 miles per gallon per seated person. So I think the same concept can be translated to electric powered aircraft.