Electric Vehicle Operating on Solar Energy

Jomu M George, Steffy Tresa Loui

Abstract: In the current automotive market, the demand for electric vehicles has skyrocketed due to factors including rising fuel prices, pollution, and their enhanced efficiency. Yet, we cannot claim that electric vehicles are completely environmentally benign when taking into account about our major energy source, which is thermal energy. The above mentioned problems will be mitigated by electric vehicles if they are powered by a renewable energy source. Our paper is to make a prototype of an electric vehicle which is powered by solar energy. We use a 17V solar panel with a 12V charge controller to charge a 12Vbattery. It also has a provision to charge the battery from AC supply. Our suggested design will guarantee excellent efficiency, no fuel expense, and minimal contribution towards pollution. The circuit is designed in such a way that it can charge the vehicle only when the vehicle is in a standstill condition and the operating speed of the vehicle is low which can be rectified in future.

Keywords: electric vehicle, charge controller, solar