Building a solar dc electric vehicle, car, trike
System
Posts: 2,511 admin
I am trying to build my own solar-electric vehicle. Interested in a 3 or 4 wheel version, getting drawings for a "trike" that has 2 wheels in front and 1 in the rear.
I also purchased a shell of a GEM electric cart. I believe I can mod this to a 3 or 4 wheel system but need to know if anyone has any lessons learned or sources.
I just purchased 138 solar controllers for the NiMH batteries (only need a couple I think but had to buy them all.
What I need is help in trying to figure out what type of motor and power needed to power say a 400lb vehicle and 5 adults. The batteries and then the solar panels. How is the motor chosen and what is the formula for calculating the size of the motor so that the vehicle can achieve a minimum of 40 MPH, the batteries needed, and the solar panels that would be the best form, fit, function.
The top of the vehicle is all glass and has plenty of open exterior space. Would like to see if there is any flexible film to that would be appropriate as well.
I also purchased a shell of a GEM electric cart. I believe I can mod this to a 3 or 4 wheel system but need to know if anyone has any lessons learned or sources.
I just purchased 138 solar controllers for the NiMH batteries (only need a couple I think but had to buy them all.
What I need is help in trying to figure out what type of motor and power needed to power say a 400lb vehicle and 5 adults. The batteries and then the solar panels. How is the motor chosen and what is the formula for calculating the size of the motor so that the vehicle can achieve a minimum of 40 MPH, the batteries needed, and the solar panels that would be the best form, fit, function.
The top of the vehicle is all glass and has plenty of open exterior space. Would like to see if there is any flexible film to that would be appropriate as well.
Comments
-
Re: Building a solar dc electric vehicle, car, trike
Google for "solar vehicle race". Look at those cars, stripped down to razor thin tires, flat shells that look like a speedboat more than a car. They can barely haul their batteries and human driver. To have a 5 person vehicle, run off it's own integrated solar roof, is impossible this year (and next). You can put a panel on the roof for show & tell, but it's effect on the scale of power that a 5 seater requires, will be nil.
http://www.wsc.org.au/welcome.html
http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
Categories
- All Categories
- 220 Forum & Website
- 128 Solar Forum News and Announcements
- 1.3K Solar News, Reviews, & Product Announcements
- 189 Solar Information links & sources, event announcements
- 886 Solar Product Reviews & Opinions
- 254 Solar Skeptics, Hype, & Scams Corner
- 22.3K Solar Electric Power, Wind Power & Balance of System
- 3.5K General Solar Power Topics
- 6.7K Solar Beginners Corner
- 1K PV Installers Forum - NEC, Wiring, Installation
- 2K Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum
- 5.5K Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems
- 424 Caravan, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine Power Systems
- 1.1K Grid Tie and Grid Interactive Systems
- 651 Solar Water Pumping
- 815 Wind Power Generation
- 621 Energy Use & Conservation
- 607 Discussion Forums/Café
- 301 In the Weeds--Member's Choice
- 74 Construction
- 124 New Battery Technologies
- 108 Old Battery Tech Discussions
- 3.8K Solar News - Automatic Feed
- 3.8K Solar Energy News RSS Feed