The sun is one of the most valuable energy sources for everyone, as it changes everything in this world.Solar-powered vehicles get their energy from the sun. They run on a battery that stores solar energy.The solar-powered car is one of the most effective inventions of scientists, as its usage reduces pollution in the environment. Apart from this, the primary energy source is available free of cost and will never run out.Introduction To Solar CarsHere are some facts related to solar cars that you should know:A solar vehicle is an electric automobile that uses solar cells to power itself from the sunshine.Solar-powered cars comprise a rechargeable battery to help store the energy from solar cells.Solar cars may seem costly but are easier to maintain than petrol-based cars, which makes them a good alternative.You can also drive solar vehicles at night because they have rechargeable batteries.Solar-powered cars are entirely environmentally friendly.One advantage is that these cars add no extra expenses except for battery replacement costs.Another advantage is that an increase in the launch of solar-powered cars reduces noise pollution or air pollution in the atmosphere.Solar cars are the future of the automotive industry, but not everyone can afford to buy solar cars as these are very expensive.They cannot be used for daily routine transportation. They use heavy-weight and expensive batteries.No one can design a fully solar-based car to date.Initially, solar cars were designed for solar challenges.First Solar CarHere, we have some facts related to the first-ever solar car invented:Solar cars were invented long ago to use solar energy and photovoltaics.General Motors employee William G. Cobb designed the first model solar car. This 15 in (38 cm) tiny automobile was displayed in 1955 at Chicago Powerama Convention.The solar car was given the name ‘Sunmobile’. This tiny car introduced the application of photovoltaics.The battery of this vehicle is rechargeable and can also be recharged through an external source of energy.These electric automobiles use solar energy to run without harmful and expensive fuels.They have a solar roof or solar panel. This solar roof or solar panel absorbs solar energy, later converted into electricity.They are much more efficient than fuel-based cars.They are still in adolescence; many scientists are still experimenting on them to create high speeds and efficient solar cars in the coming future.They are relatively lighter in weight. Some of them are specially designed with solar panels used for satellites to improve their efficiency in the future.The brothers Hans Tholstrup and Larry Perkins were the first to participate in a solar car race. This race was held on the Solar trek from Perth to Sydney in 1983.This race was initiated with a car named ‘The Quite Achiever’. It had a speed of around 14 mi/h (23 kph).The solar challenge is one of the most popular car races among students in different parts of the world.The fastest solar-powered car is Sunswift IV, with around 55 mi/h (88.8 kph).The University of the New South Wales Solar Racing Team designed the fastest solar car. It was designed in 2011. Sunswift IV costs around $500,000.A new hybrid solar electric vehicle is introduced for commercial usage. The cost of this car is around $28,500. It can charge itself automatically, using the solar panels fixed on it. The car takes nearly 30 minutes to charge at a power station. This vehicle supports solar energy but can not run on solar power alone.Toyota and Hyundai are also working to introduce hybrid solar electric cars in the market very soon.Workings Of Solar CarsThe working of a solar car is fascinating.Solar cars use a solar array that depends on photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity.These cells convert the sunlight into electricity directly; when sunlight strikes the photovoltaic cells, it excites electrons and allows them to flow.The sun provides radiant heat and light, known as solar energy, using various technologies, such as solar power to generate electricity.Solar panels are built up of many smaller units called photovoltaic cells attached.These cells play a significant role in generating solar energy and help convert sunlight into electricity use of solar-powered cars saves money on fuel.Uses Of Solar EnergySolar energy is one of the many readily accessible energy sources provided by nature, free of cost and never exhaustible. People have used it since bygone times, and nowadays this energy is used in electrical and electronic appliances. The following are the facts related to the uses of solar energy.Solar energy has been used for more than 2,700 years for heating, electrifying, and other applications.Solar energy came into existence in 1954 when Bell Laboratories created the first commercially viable solar cell.It’s used for household chores like cooking and industrial usage.174,000 terawatts of energy continuously strike the earth’s surface as solar radiation, even on cloudy days.Solar panels allow photons to excite electrons, generating a flow of electricity.Solar power can be obtained only during sunny days.Solar power can be considered the best source because it is readily available and doesn’t release any CO2; as a result, it helps to reduce air pollution.Commercial solar panels cannot provide the power to charge solar cells for daily transport vehicles.Additional solar panels would lead to the addition of weight and extra cost to the cars.Solar panels absorb photovoltaics to generate solar electricity to run different appliances.The maintenance cost of these appliances is relatively low.The introduction of solar ventilation has made an innovative approach towards advancing the ventilation system.In this digital era, technology is moving fast, so portable solar chargers are introduced so that you never operate out of battery while traveling.Scientists are continuously working towards innovation to use photovoltaics to create a cleaner environment.By using solar power, we can also reduce our electricity bill.The main disadvantage of using solar power is that energy storage is costly, and not everyone can afford it.Did You Know…While reading about the facts about solar power cars, it is also vital to have an overview of the fun facts about the sun:According to scientists, the age of the sun is around 4.6 billion years old, and unlike earth, it has no solid surface. Instead, it is wholly made up of gases.We all know that the sun is hot, but how hot? Just for an idea, the average temperature of Earth is around 62.6° F (17° C), while the average surface temperature of the sun is 9932° F (5500°C).It has a diameter of about 864,000 mi (1,390,473 km).It is approximately 109 times bigger than the diameter of the earth.
The sun is one of the most valuable energy sources for everyone, as it changes everything in this world.