ISRO showcases its solar-electric hybrid car

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently showcased a solar-electric hybrid vehicle. The organisation used a Maruti Suzuki Omni as the project vehicle.

The said solar-electric car has been developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) facility in Thiruvananthapuram, which is a part of ISRO. The engineers have planted a solar panel on top of the Omni's roof, which is responsible for charging the car's lithium-ion batteries on the go. The Omni, which is conventionally driven by an internal combustion engine (ICE), has been converted to draw power from a brushless DC motor.

ISRO has also employed a power conversion module between the energy system and electric motor to convert electric energy into mechanical energy. The lithium-ion batteries are connected across high power-density super capacitors. These capacitors are used to supply peak power during high torque conditions.

ISRO is also claiming that all these alterations in the car have been done while making sure that the safety aspects of the vehicle aren't compromised. However, the organisation hasn't revealed any range related figures or other specifications of the said solar-electric hybrid project car.

Source: Car and Bike