High School Students Design a Solar-Powered Electric Car
Art Haines, a mechanical designer, along with eight study-hall students from the Skowhegan Area High School, have constructed a two-seater prototype solar vehicle from scratch. The SUNN EV, Sun Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, is a street-legal car with a big solar array that is mounted up on the bonnet region. The original two-speed transmission system prototype measured 60 x 84 inches and has been found to be capable of achieving speeds of 25 MPH. Read more about Commercialization of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Once this Hummer-like prototype vehicle was finished, Haines further modified his idea and configured a low-priced, do-it-yourself (DIY) solar car kit that anybody from any position can buy and construct.
SUNN EV DIY Kit Characteristics:
- Hood-mounted 85-watt solar array
- Power-driven by a 10 HP DC motor
- Front and rear suspension system with two shocks
- Includes large diameter wheels for lowest rolling electric resistance
- Fully charged batteries give range of 20 to 30 miles
- Can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour
- The kit does not include batteries
- Charge from the sun or via wall outlet
- Comes fully charged with wiper blades, turn signals, lights, review mirrors, horn, seat belts, emergency brake and disc brakes
- Includes safety glass windshield
- All parts are pre-welded – no exceptional instruments are called for
- The new blueprint is longer and can accommodate passengers over six feet tall
- Includes manual with stepwise directions
The DIY car is customizable, meaning that owners have the ability to select the car’s color and shape. Models include the solar truck or the one-passenger SPIRIT 3-wheeler. It takes around 80 to 120 hours to assemble the vehicle and the estimated cost of the DIY kit is $5,000.
Read more about Commercialization of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
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