Performance analysis of mini vehicles powered by solar cells

Use of new components in mini commercial vehicles powered by solar cells

Abstract

In this work were tested two commercial kits to assembly of mini solar vehicles in order to improve the
efficiency in the final average speed. Each solar vehicle was assembled with a kit of parts containing: an engine, four
wheels, four pulleys, a plastic gear with 36 teeth, a metallic spur gear with eight teeth, a chassis and a solar cell. To
improve efficiency, the solar cells in the kit were replaced with larger ones. The use of these components, a first mini solar
vehicle was assembled, called as MVS-0 and used as a reference during the tests. The use of the another kit, a second mini
solar vehicle was assembled, called as MVS-1, adding new components, such as: cardboard cone to support the solar cell, a
small size electrolytic capacitor of 25 V e 47 µF that was electrically connected in parallel with the engine. The original
gear was replaced by another one with 48 teeth and connected to the wheel. Both vehicles were weighed presenting 24.3 g
for the MVS-0 and 34.7 g for the MVS-1. The electrolytic capacitor and the new gear increased the weight of the MVS-1,
but the performance was equalized by the average speed resulting in 0.39 m/s (or 1.40 km/h), while the MVS-0 presented
only 0.20 m/s (or 0.72 Km/h) for both mini solar vehicles irradiated with the same distance between LED lamp and solar
cell. The electrolytic capacitor generated more power to the motor, which was verified by the initial voltage measurements
on the solar cell presenting value of 392.3 mV for the MVS-1 and only 67.8 mV for the MVS-0, both measured at the same
condition.