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.

There are millions more to Great Britain music festivals this summer that Dance to the Radio with Friends. From rock by the seaside at Wakestock to folk and acoustic sounds at Cambridge, British festivals market place is in fantastic health. Tickets for old favourites like Love Music Hate Racism and Gatecrasher continue to sell like hot cakes, & with Estelle on Dance to the Radio with Friends Paul Weller at Leeds and Jay-Z at Glastonbury the British festivals are appealing to a better demographic range than ever before.

What do festival goers want from a music festival? Is it fierce dance music so festival hunters can have fun all evening, ear banging rock for serious moshing or some fierce soft folk music while festival hunters bask in the sunshine? What is further crucial really is the sort of atmosphere that one are seeking for, the acts and the facilities, all of which at different festivals vary a lot. The prominent pop festivals goes into swing usually at the end of March beginning of summer the festival go on up & down the British Isles so there are always going to be a breathtaking festival that are near by to you yourself. There are never ever any complaints as folk of course are obviously going to choose a stunning festival that suits festival lovers and what festival hunters are seeking for.

The 1st time folk attend a magnificent festival from the very minute folk walk in the grounds to set up your tent you will feel this spectacular buzz. Pop Festivals typically seem to get larger year after year. The only down fall that seems to get discussed year after year are the expense of burgers and lager on the other hand this cant be helped. One are no allowed to take any of your own kebabs or cola onto the festival grounds but one are allowed to bring it into your camping ground so it makes sense to eat and drink all one can before stepping into the festival grounds this way festival lovers should be able to refrain from spending a fortune What makes a festival great is for obvious reasons the sunny weather, the tremendous atmosphere the bands and the incredible memories that festival goers are obviously going to make along the way. Get yourself the best tickets in town with Time Out www.timeout.com/london/festivals.