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Solar Car Electrical System Prototype

Project Description

This project is to build and test a scaled-down prototype of the electrical system of a solar car. The major parts of this prototype are the solar array, maximum power point trackers (MPPT), rechargeable batteries, and a load. The solar array will be made of flexible silicon crystalline solar cells encapsulated (to protect from debris and enhance performance) and mounted on a contoured composite panel that mimics the surface of the car body. This team will design and build its own MPPT which is a variable DC/DC boost converter that raises the voltage of our array. The MPPT has a feedback loop control to ensure maximum output from the array under different insolation and temperatures. The rechargeable batteries will be Li-ion batteries that will act as a buffer energy source when sunlight is not available or is insufficient to power the system.. Although Li-ion batteries have a high energy density, they require a battery management system to ensure safe and optimal operation. Thus, this team will purchase a battery management system that is suitable for our car. Lastly, the energy generated by the solar array will power a load, which will be a motor this team plans to borrow from another team.

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Funding Details

Student Campus Environment Fee (SCEF) - 303692
Fiscal Year Status Amount Date Operations
2015 Allocated $3,295.00 5/11/2015 Edit | Delete

SSC Basic Info

Year Started: 2015
Semester: Spring
Status: Closed
Student Led? Yes
Project Category: Energy

SSC Project Team

Project Lead:

Tan Chee Sim (ctan14@illinois.edu)

Financial Advisor:

Lee Jye Sze (jlee641@illinois.edu)

Team Members:

  • David Dziedzina
  • Wenyuan Chen
  • Eddie Sun
  • Wong Foong Yee

Illinois Green Fund - Student Sustainability Committee