Team Solarium-Solar Electric Vehicle Project

Our project is to design and build a solar electric race car to compete in National and International solar car racing events. We chose this project because we are passionate about sustainable energy and transportation, and we wanted to challenge ourselves to create an innovative vehicle that pushes the boundaries of solar car technology.

The car works by converting sunlight into electricity using high-efficiency solar panels mounted on the vehicle's body. This electricity is stored in a bank of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. When the car is ready to race, the stored electricity is fed into a powerful electric motor that drives the rear wheels.

The key components of the car include:

-Solar panels: Monocrystalline silicon panels with 22% efficiency that can generate over 1500W of power

- Battery pack: 72 V, 46Ah lithium-ion battery pack providing 3.3 kWh of storage 

- Electric motor: 2.4 kW brushless DC motor capable of 711 RPM and 64 N⋅m of peak torque

- Motor controller: Advanced controller with current flow regulator,over voltage protection.

- Electronic control unit (ECU): Custom-designed ECU that manages the motor, battery, solar input, and auxiliary components

The ECU is the "brain" of the car, using sensors to monitor the state of the battery, solar input, motor speed, and other critical parameters. It then uses this data to optimize performance, efficiency and safety. The ECU also controls auxiliary components like the cooling fans, lights, and telemetry systems.

Another key component is the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controller. This device constantly adjusts the load on the solar panels to extract the maximum possible power from them, even as lighting conditions change. The MPPT feeds this power into the battery pack to keep it charged.

To further improve efficiency, I designed and built our own DC-DC converter circuit. This steps down the 72V battery voltage to the 12V needed by the ECU and other electronics. By optimizing this circuit for efficiency, I was able to reduce power losses and extend the car's range.

The car's body is made from lightweight carbon fiber composites to minimize weight while maintaining rigidity and safety. The sleek, aerodynamic shape was designed using computational fluid dynamics to reduce drag at high speeds.

And a video of the car's run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAGwuLS_36o&pp=ygUNdGVhbSBzb2xhcml1bQ%3D%3D

Overall, this project has been an incredible learning experience, allowing me to apply my knowledge of renewable energy, electronics, and mechanical engineering to create a real working vehicle. I'm excited to continue refining and optimizing the car as I prepare to compete against other top student teams from around the world. The goal is to push the limits of what's possible with solar-powered transportation and inspire others to embrace sustainable mobility solutions.

For more information contact us at :

Official website :https://teamsolarium.com

eam Solarium (@teamsolarium_india)