10-12-2012, 04:50 PM
Hybrid Electrical Vehicles
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ABSTRACT
Hybrid electrical vehicles are growing in popularity and significance in our market place as gasoline price continue to rise. Consumers are also increasingly aware as their carbon “footprint” and seek ways of lowering their cabondioxide output. Solar energy is primarily source for fair comparison of efficiencies for true zero emission vehicles. Component efficiencies are from the literature. The battery powered electric vehicle has the highest efficiency of conversion from solar energy for a driving range of 300 miles. Among the fuel cell vehicles the most efficient is the vehicle with on board compressed hydrogen storage.
Solar energy is the most readily available source of energy. It does not belong to anybody. It is also the most important of the non-conventional sources of energy because it is non-polluting and therefore helps in lessening the greenhouse effect. Solar energy has been used since prehistoric times, but in a most primitive manner. Solar energy is becoming a popular energy source due to the fact that it is the most abundant and most cost effective energy source on the planet. Put simply, solar energy is energy derived from the sun, and this energy is not only clean, but renewable and costs nothing.
A solar three wheel vehicle which uses solar energy to charge its batteries has been designed and built. Most of the mechanical components are common parts available. The electrical components such as the solar panels and batteries are available in the local market. However, the DC motor, its controller and the maximum power point trackers (MPPT) are also available. Suitable parts which can be easily recycled and re-used, with desired functions that contribute to vehicle optimum performance are properly selected. This paper describes the integration of the off-the-shelf mechanical and electrical components for the solar vehicle. The vehicle has a unique suspension which permits limited lateral rotation of the forward portion of the vehicle relative to the rear portion and thereby, facilitates handling and ease of use. Speed and acceleration are controlled through a modulated pulse width controller which supplies pulses of electrical energy to the DC motor in response to throttle commands.