ENERGY PARAMETERS OF A SOLAR CAR FOR JORDAN

All parameters related to car energy were investigated in this work, a nd the power basics of a car design powered by solar energy are laid d own. Year-round weather conditions, car weight, road roughness and roa d inclination were taken as variable parameters used to calculate the car speed and working hours (year round). Fixed parameters taken for t he design were: a photovoltaic generator area of 6 m(2), car length of 5 m, car width of 1.8 m and maximum power output of 480 W/person with a maximum of two persons. These parameters depended on the regulation s of ''Tour de Sol '91''. Calculations depended on Amman weather condi tions. Sixteen ASI 16-200 ARCO SOLAR INC. model photovoltaic modules w ere used, with three DELCO 1150 lead acid batteries connected to a per manent magnet DC motor of 0.8 hp. This car can run at different speeds 3-6 hours/day on 200 days/year. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science L td