[ausev] Solar Car - Found this email on Bike mailing list

[Brian Lasseter]

I'd recommend talking to DBK Solar.  They make some of the most
efficient solar panels available at the moment.  They have single
solar panels that can give you 3 kilo-watts on a good day.  [ 62" x
32" x 2.5" (L x W x D) @ 50 lbs weight ]
http://www.dbksolar.com/JIL-3000.htm
http://www.dbksolar.com/Specificatins.htm

So far as I can figure, one of these panels will be able to recharge
my full size electric vehicle in about 6 hours of daylight.  (Granted,
that's only 1 hour of driving per 6 hours of light... So that is not
good enough for your solar race, but it's good enough for my commute.)

DBK Panel:  3000Watts * 6Hours = 18.000 Kilo-Watt-Hours

3400lb Car @ 68mph:  144Volts * 96Amps * 1Hour = 13.824 Kilo-Watt-Hours

I'm sure there are inefficiencies in putting energy into, and pulling
energy from the battery... I don't have that information in front of
me.  So in my back of the napkin calculations, I just figure I'll need
a lot more input energy.  I'll be exploring this more as I get my car
together.  The DBK panels would be able to provide all of the energy I
need for my commute.  A more standard solar panel (like the Sharp 208W
modules on my house) would only provide me 8% of the energy required
for commuting.


On 2/26/07, mike at mikeconwell.com <mike at mikeconwell.com> wrote:
> Hi everyone, I'm Robert Wilson of Stony Point High School in Round Rock.
> We have a team of roughly 6 members that is trying to create a solar
> powered car. We'll use it for educational seminars and such, but it's
> main purpose is to be raced to New York from Round Rock this summer in
> the Dell Winston Solar Car  Challenge. Anyway, we were thinking of
> using bike parts for part of the construction- wheels, tires and shocks
> mainly, but if any idea comes up that would make the car more econimical
> or efficient, we'd definitely consider that too. Is there anyone that
> may be interested in helping us out a little? Anything helps really,
> from technical advice to publicity or spare parts that you might have
> handy. I have CAD drawings and any other information if you would like
> it. Just for reference the car should weigh around 550-650 lbs (rough
> est.). Thanks a lot!


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

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