| Solar power is becoming quite popular in many | | | | car races which are the North American Solar |
| countries across the planet as it utilizes the energy of | | | | Challenge, and the World Solar Challenge. These are |
| the sun. A solar-powered vehicle is basically an | | | | overland road rally-style races that are usually |
| electric automobile that is powered by this renewable | | | | contested by corporate and university teams. |
| energy. The power is gained by the use of solar | | | | Racers from across the world gather in Australia to |
| panels that are usually placed on the roof of the car. | | | | compete in the World Solar Challenge. The drivers |
| Photovoltaic (PV) cells then convert the energy from | | | | race 3,000 kilometres across the continent. In the |
| the sun straight into electrical energy. It is all a very | | | | North American Solar Challenge, college and university |
| simple process. While solar vehicles have been made, | | | | teams dominate as they race in timed intervals in |
| they are not considered to be practical in daily | | | | America and Canada, with the next event scheduled |
| transportation use at this point in time. Most | | | | for the summer of 2010. |
| solar-powered cars are basically used as | | | | There is also a race for high school students that is |
| demonstration vehicles as well as research projects. | | | | held in America, called the Dell-Winston School Solar |
| However, that is not to say they will not be more | | | | Car Challenge. This is a yearly event that also |
| popular in the future. | | | | attracts teams from around the world, but the |
| Solar cars are typically quite limited by energy that is | | | | majority are from the U.S. It originated in 1995. Other |
| input into the machine. The majority of solar cars at | | | | distance races are held, such as the Suzuka, |
| present have actually been manufactured for the | | | | Phaethon, which is an annual solar race that is held in |
| reason of racing solar cars. However, there are some | | | | Japan. |
| solar utility vehicles in use in various parts of the | | | | While solar power has been used to fuel |
| world. The cars are usually fitted with gauges that | | | | motorcycles, bicycles, ships, and airplanes, it seems |
| are used to indicate any possible problems. If there | | | | that cars would be the most popular form of |
| are not any gauges installed, the auto will probably | | | | transportation of a solar vehicle around the world and |
| have wireless telemetry. This lets a driver's team | | | | researchers are trying to develop one for everyday |
| monitor the energy consumption, the capture of | | | | public use. The Solartaxi, which was the result of a |
| energy as well as other parameters of the car while | | | | project in Switzerland, has actually circumnavigated |
| the driver can simply concentrate on doing the | | | | the world as it drove 50,000 kilometres in 18 and |
| driving. | | | | crossed 40 countries. It can travel 400 kilometres |
| The PV cells of the cars can directly convert the light | | | | without recharging. And has a maximum speed of 90 |
| of the sun into electricity and are generally | | | | kilometres per hour. While this is positive news, it |
| constructed of semiconductor materials including | | | | seems a type of solar-powered hybrid car will be the |
| alloys of indium, nitrogen, gallium, as well as silicon. | | | | next step. However, it has been reported that the |
| However, silicon is used most commonly used as it | | | | 2010 Toyota Prius will have an option to erect solar |
| possesses an efficiency rate of 15 to 20 per cent. | | | | panels on its roof and that Toyota is trying to |
| As stated before, solar cars are generally restricted | | | | develop an all-solar car. |
| to racing and show. There are two very popular solar | | | | |