Solar Energy in Transportation

As we all know solar energy is obtained from the sun’s radiation and it can be converted into electricity or heat. It is freely available and thanks to advances in technology, we can now harness even more of the solar energy that is continuously available to us. Solar energy is not only sustainable, it is renewable and this means that we will never run out of it. It is about as natural a source of power as it is possible to generate electricity.

The creation of solar energy requires little maintenance. Once the solar panels have been installed and are working at maximum efficiency there is only a small amount of maintenance required each year to ensure they are in working order. They are a silent producer of energy. There is absolutely no noise made from photovoltaic panels as they convert sunlight into usable electricity. There are continual advancements in solar panel technology which are increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of production, thus making it, even more, cost-effective.

Solar Transportation is one of the important uses of solar energy in our daily life. An innovative practice to effectively make use of the sunshine is with transportation powered by photovoltaic (PV) energy. Railroads, subways, buses, planes, cars and even roads can all be powered by solar, and solar transit is becoming a popular offering in the renewable energy sector. The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part of a vehicle's propulsion. Solar power may be also used to provide power for communications or controls or other auxiliary functions.

Solar vehicles are not sold as practical day-to-day transportation devices at present but are primarily demonstration vehicles and engineering exercises, often sponsored by government agencies. However, indirectly solar-charged vehicles are widespread and solar boats are available commercially.

The world’s first solar-powered bus was introduced in 2013, in Adelaide, Australia. Adelaide’s city council was keen on reducing the city’s carbon emissions as more than 30% of it came from transportation, both public and private.

The Tindo (that's the name of the buses) buses are quite unique as they are 100% electric, meaning they are generating zero emission, unlike gas-powered and hybrid fleets. However, the bus is not powering itself, it doesn’t have any solar panels installed on it, but it has a battery that is being charged at the Adelaide central bus station before setting out on routes around town. On an average weekday, with average traffic conditions, the bus can cover about 200km before it’s battery is drained and needs a recharge, however, the regenerative brake system can extend battery life slightly.

Solar buses are helping China reduce its carbon footprint while simultaneously maintaining efficient mass transit in densely populated cities like Beijing. Finally, solar cars are starting to play a role in racing competitions around the world, especially in Australia where the Solar Spirit model has gained major recognition. With these advances and more, there’s no question that solar power is the transforming transportation sector around the world.

For more details: Soura Natural Energy Solutions