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What is a solar car?
A solar-powered car is distinguished by its unique operating mode: it uses solar energy as its power sourceconverting the sun's rays into electricity using photovoltaic cells photovoltaic cells integrated into its bodywork. What's more, there's no need for a recharging station or electric socket to get around!
The arrangement of the photovoltaic cells varies according to the vehicle model: they can be located either :
- solar panels on the roof,
- integrated into the bodywork.
This mechanism, similar to that of traditional solar panels on buildings, generates electricity using solar energy. The solar cellsintegrated into the entire vehicle thanks to the photovoltaic effect, convert solar radiation into electrical energy. This energy stored in a battery and then used to power the car on the move.
The vehicle's integrated solar collectors enable continuous recharging, so there's no need to stop to recharge the battery. What's more, recharging the vehicle generates no additional costwhich is good for your budget.
Also read : Solar panels for electric cars: everything you need to know
Today's solar cars don't just run on solar energy. They are in fact hybrids combining electricity and solar power. They incorporate an electric motor, rechargeable like other electric carsand a battery capable of storing electrical energy.
As a result, combined combined technologies enable them to operate at night or in the absence of sunlightand even achieve higher autonomies.
What's more, they offer a partial solution to fluctuating energy prices, helping to save money. They thus represent a step forward in the automotive industry's energy transition.
Also read : The impact of rising electricity prices on my electric car
Etymology of the solar car
Technological advances to design solar cars, including electric motors and the photovoltaic effect, date back to the XXᵉ century. Here are a few key dates:
1955 : William G. Cobban employee of General Motors Corp, unveils the "Sunmobilea 15-inch-long (approx. (approx. 38 cm) solar-powered miniature vehicle, at the General Motors Powerama auto show in Chicago.
The "Sunmobile" had 12 selenium photocells (a non-metallic substance with conductive properties) to generate an electric current, powering a small motor. The latter drove the drive shaft, connected to the rear axle by a pulley.
In short, it was Cobb's "Sunmobile" that initiated the use of photovoltaics in the automotive industry.
1985 The Tour de Solorganized in Switzerland in 1985was the first official race for solar-powered vehicles. Even today, competition remains the main use for solar-powered cars. Although pioneering, these cars do not meet the power requirements of private and professional users.
1987 The World Solar Challenge is now a major bi-annual event, attracting mainly university and corporate teams. The participating cars, lightweight and equipped with solar panels, run on three wheels the size of bicycle tires. However, they do not represent a working prototype for today's commercial cars.
Some solar car projects
As a reminder, environmental concerns are growing, and the need for sustainable transport solutions is becoming ever more pressing. Solar-powered cars are emerging as a promising alternative to traditional vehicles. In recent years, a number of ambitious projects promise to revolutionize the automotive industry and democratize the use of this innovative technology.
Lightyear 0
For the record, in 2013students from the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands took part in the famous World Solar Challenge for the first time. They went on to win the competition three times, in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Convinced of their breakthrough in solar electric propulsion, some members decided to take the plunge in 2016.
Lex Hoefsloot, Arjo van der Ham, Martijn Lammers, Qurein Biewenga and Koen van Ham then founded Lightyear in Helmond, near Eindhoven.
In 2018, Lightyear revealed plans to design a mass-produced solar car. The following year, in 2019, the Lightyear One was unveiled and renamed the Lightyear 0underlining its commitment to carbon neutrality.
This electric car, partly powered by solar energy, is scheduled for commercial launch commercial launch on June 19, 2022. It is the first mass-produced solar-powered car and will be equipped with five cubic meters of photovoltaic panels, marking a major technological advance.
The Lightyear 0 is above all an electric car with a small battery and a solar extension.. The solar panels serve as an energy back-up, varying according to geographical location, season and traffic conditions.
Its features
According to our information, the Lightyear 0 is equipped with 5 m² of solar panels and offers a range of 710 km with a reduced fuel consumption of 8.3 kWh/100 km.
It accumulates around 70 km of sunlight every day daily, adding to its range of 625 km attributable to its standard electric motor. Weighing in at 1.575 kg and offering considerable powerthis is the most efficient electric car available today.
Lightyear informs us that drivers of this model can travel several weeks without rechargingfor daily daily trips of 35 kilometers. What's more, it comes with several charging options:
- Standard socket,
- Charging station (up to 60 kW),
- Solar panels.
According to the manufacturer, after an average day's parking, the car can regain up to 64 km of range.
Depending on climatic conditions, free, effortless annual range varies from between 6,000 and 11,000 kmaccording to one of the founders.
Its price
Acquiring one of the 946 Lightyear 0 units will require an investment of 250 000 €well in excess of the initial €100,000.
Supposedly by the way, the company revealed its intention to unveil by 2025 a more affordable model at the expense of the 0, named Lightyear 2for around between €25,000 and €30,000This will put an end to production of the Lightyear 0.
Sono Sion
Sono Motorsa German start-up founded in Munich in 2016, has announced the development of its solar-charged electric minivan, called the "Sono Sion". It was a project for a low-cost electric family car equipped with photovoltaic cells..
Despite the promise of a free weekly ride thanks to the sun, the company has struggled to get investors on board, proving essential to launch production with the minimum funds required.
In an official press release dated February 24, 2023, Sono Motors recently declared that it was its solar car development initiative and had to cut and cut around 300 jobs due to insolvency. In just two years, between 2021 and 2023, thewhich was valued at $2.6 billionhas plummeted to the point where it can no longer meet its debts.
Although the company had extended its #SaveSion fundraising campaign and was optimistic about the results, the Sion project clearly lacked the funds to continue.
Its features
This minivan is equipped with 248 solar cells and a photovoltaic panel surface area of 7.5 m². However, despite 44,000 announced orders, no Sono Sion has ever been produced, as previously stated.
Like Lightyear's solar car, the Sion's battery can also be charged via a :
- standard plug,
- charging station (11 kW AC and up to 75 kW DC)
- and/or solar panels.
With a maximum speed of 140 km/h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in around 9 secondssolar panels on the car would provide an average range of average range of 112 km per week. This impressive figure is equivalent to just over ⅓ of the advertised total range, i.e. approx. 300 km.
Its price
This promising model stood out not only for its innovative technology, but also for its affordable price.
Unlike other solar car projects such as Lightyear, the Sion is positioned in a more accessible market segment, with a starting price starting price of €25,000making solar technology more accessible to a wider public.
Other solar car projects
The 2 projects mentioned above are the most important in terms of solar vehicles. However, a number of other start-ups have also come up with eco-friendly cars.
Aptera
Founded a decade earlier, start-up Aptera designed its famous eponymous electric vehicle, developing various prototypes and carrying out several road tests.
The latest launch version, entitled Launch Edition" is a three-wheeled vehicle. Thanks to its innovative design, this solar-powered electric car offers a range of up to 643 km.
However, the young California company has gone through fluctuating periods, racking up a large number of pre-orders, but, like Sono Motors, is facing financial difficulties bringing it to the brink of insolvency.
Kayoola Solar
Ugandan company Kiira Motors set out to develop a solar-electric bus. Now let's dive into the Kayoola Solar bus, whose prototype was revealed with a bang in Kampala in 2016.
A pioneer on the continent, the Kayoola Solar bus is powered by lithium-ion batteries powered by solar energy and could travel 300 km per charge and charge in 2 hours. What's more, it can accommodate 90 passengers (49 seated and 41 standing).
However, delays delays disrupted the project due to inefficient planning and the cautious investors about its viability. As a result, 2018 ended with no Ugandan cars beyond the prototype stage.
Is the solar-powered car the future of electromobility?
The rise in popularity of electric cars is sparking growing interest in eco-friendly alternatives, with the solar car emerging as a promising option. Technological advances and initiatives to reducecarbon footprints are encouraging its development.
Potential benefits include reduced carbon emissions and greater autonomy thanks to solar power. However, challenges remain, such as:
- Limited collector surface: the size of the car does not allow enough solar panels to be installed for significant autonomy.
- Weather dependent: sunshine plays a crucial role.
- Cost and performance: on-board technology is still expensive to buy.
In the short term, the replace your main vehicle for long journeys.. On the other hand, solar technology integrated into electric cars could play an interesting role in the future of sustainable mobility, by increasing range and reducing energy consumption.
Although widespread adoption is still some way off, the solar car could play a key role in the future of electromobility, offering a viable solution for more environmentally-friendly mobility.
Conclusion
More than 50 years after Cobb introduced the Sunmobile, no mass-produced solar car has yet reached the world market despite the many competitions held around the world.
As we have seen, Lightyear and Sono Motors and others refer to solar-powered vehicles, but this name is partly misleading. is partly misleading.. It's more a marketing tool than an accurate description of reality. These vehicles are mainly electric cars with small batteries and solar extensions. The solar panels are used toenergy boostdepending on geographical location, season and traffic conditions.
In short, the solar car is a technology promising technology for the automotive sector's energy transition. While a certain amount of uncertainty surrounds its widespread adoption, encouraging encouraging initiatives point to a promising future..
Even if a mass-market solar car is still a long way off, solar power can play a key role in promoting essential role in promoting sustainable transport..
While you're waiting for access to a solar-powered vehicle, don't forget that Beev offers a wide range of brands of electric vehicles at competitive prices, complete with recharging solutions.
