[sarathlal]

Students of Manipal Institute of Technology have designed the institute’s first ever prototype of a solar-powered car called the SERVe (Solar Electric Road Vehicle). They are contemplating the idea of commercial production viability.

• Tata Power Solar, rendered its assistance for the student project.
• Designed by a a team of 27 students, The SolarMobil team
• Four-wheeled, two-seater
• Weighs 590 kg
• Top speed of 60 kmph with a cruising speed of 30 Kmph.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ype-solar.html

[libranof1987]

This is impressive; the effort coming in at that level is commendable. If there's a good level of participation from a corporate house and perhaps the government, such initiatives can lead to very practical ideas.

MIT (my alma matter) has also been participating (and doing well) in the race-car designing competition for quite a while now.

[rohanjf]

This is interesting, especially because it is backed by Tata. Usually, such projects come and they go. Let's hope that this team sticks together after engineering (which isn't usually the case, because ambitions and career goals differ) and Tata decides to invest more in this team. As far as I know, Tata has good engineering facilities for electric cars in Scandinavian countries which can help this team in future (if they want to).

Originally Posted by libranof1987

MIT (my alma matter) has also been participating (and doing well) in the race-car designing competition for quite a while now.

My alma mater too

[bullock-Car]

Read the prototype solar car developed by Manipal institute withTATA;
http://manipal.edu/mu/news-events/ne...solar-car.html.

With the recent advances in solar panels and battery tech, i think the solar car concept has a great potenial in India with more than 330 days of sunlight, for our slow moving urban short commute.
This will a boon for the pollution and really green concept. In coming days we sure will hear more of the same.

[Prash22]

Its definitely the need of the hour with pollution levels going astray in cities. As i understand the production cost is going to be huge with solar cells being very expensive.
People have been building solar concept cars from decades but hasn't been commercially viable because of the cost. Hopefully, the advancement in semiconductors technology will reduce the cost of solar cells in future.

[simplyself]

Its expensive to build solar panels even for domestic applications. Another area of concern is the efficiency of panels which is around 17-19 percent.

[Astleviz]

1. A high-quality commercially available solar panel is rated at 200-250w. That means it will generate about 1 kw in 4-5 hours (during peak sunlight). The solar panel + inverter + lithium battery backup will cost approx. 40-50,000 INR (if we are using high quality equipment, not cheap unbranded chinese stuff).

2. A typical solar panel has an area of around 18-20 sq.ft. The rood of a typical hatch/sedan is between 15-20 sq. ft. So at best you can put one solar panel on the roof. Which means your Solar powered car will make 1 kw in 5 hours, it's not enough to move the car from stand still. If you have an alternate power source and solar panels are for additional range, you will get 5-6 km extra after 5 hours of charging.

Solar powered cars make for good concept prototypes or college projects but are not feasible in the near future.

[Cartman]

Good display of technical know-how is all I'd say. Even in a country like India, where sunlight is a plenty - solar cars just won't work. It boils down to the efficiency of the panels, which aren't very high to begin with. At best, solar energy can be harnessed as a secondary source of energy for the vehicle. Say, like the Fisker Karma. IIRC, solar energy is used to power small lights, the radio et all. Now that, is being energy efficient.

Well done to the entire team behind this project, goes to show there's more to college than mugging books!


Cheers!
Cartman

[apachelongbow]

Lets consider where solar energy can make a huge difference, if implemented correctly. Why don't we consider putting up a electric trolley bus based BRTS on our city roads? The entire BRTS lanes can be covered with solar panel cells overhead, which would produce enough electricity to power the buses on the line, and only in cloudy skies or night the system could pick up juice from the city mains...
Likewise why not put solar panels along all railway tracks, to tap and supply electricity to run locomotives? if solar energy can't power all of the railways, they can at-least supplement electricity usage, and help save the environment.

[Autolock123]

Superb Efforts !!!

In current scenario, electric vehicles are a viable solution for the pollution problems. Solar technology can complement it by generating electricity at charging stations for vehicle charging. India currently does have Electric vehicle on road, does have subsidy from government to make the cost of car a bit less expensive, however the infrastructure is extremely limited.

Pune city has just 4 electric charging stations in city (not sure if they have increased it now). I am sure govt. agencies/private players must be evaluating the solar powered electric charging stations as one of the solution but , some financial support from government make expedite the process and make it a viable solution.

R&D in Solar car too may make it more economical in future. once again congrats to the team!