A solar powered car is an electric car which is powered by the suns energy, which is obtained from solar panels on the surface of the vehicle. Photovoltaic cells convert the suns energy directly into electrical energy. Solar powered vehicles are not practical every day uses of transportation at present, but are mostly demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, which are often sponsored by government agencies.

There are solar cars, which are not primarily solar energy, they combine technology, used in aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries. The solar car is severely limited by the amount of energy put into it by batteries and power from the sun. All solar cars that have been built have been used for the purpose of solar car races, because they are not yet capable to go on the road against normal cars.

Like a lot of race cars, the driver’s cockpit usually has room for just one person; however some of them contain room for a second passenger.

The cars contain a lot of the features that are available in normal cars such as brakes, accelerator, indicators, rear view mirrors, air con, and some times even cruise control.

Solar cars are usually fitted with gauges like in conventional cars. The driver’s main priority is to keep an eye on these gauges to spot possible problems. Solar powered cars can also have what is called wireless telemetry, and this allows the driver’s team to monitor the cars energy consumption, solar energy and other parameters and free the driver to concentrate on just driving.

The main thing to remember is that you cannot use solar panels on regular cars, they have to be electric.

The electrical system is the most important part of the cars system because it controls the power that comes in and out of the system. The battery pack in the car has the same use that a petrol tank has in a normal car in storing the power for future use. Solar cars use a range of batteries including lead acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, lithium ion batteries and lithium polymern batteries.

Solar race cars have complex data systems that monitor the whole electrical system while even the simplest cars have systems that provide information on battery voltage and current to the driver.

So these solar powered cars are very clever, and efficient.

Solar powered cars are designed to keep friction and weight to a minimum while still maintaining strength. Titanium and composites are normally used by designers to ensure a good strength-to-weight ratio.

Solar cars usually have three wheels but some can have four. Three wheeled cars usually have two at the front and one at the rear: the front wheels steer and the rear obviously follows behind. The four wheeled cars are set up just like normal cars. One day we may be learning to drive in these cars as they are increasing in technology every day and are definitely the most environmentally friendly.

Chris Woolfrey is the solar panel expert at EcoSwitch The environmental social network.