May 14 2010
In 2009, students in a mechanical engineering class of James Durand at the University of Virginia converted a Honda Accord to run on electrical energy. This year, the students in collaboration with the university’s Facilities Management, in an effort to power a car with solar energy, are likely to set up photovoltaic panels close to its parking lots to produce electricity.
The panels, installed at the top of a bus kiosk of the Emmet/Ivy Garage, will supply electrical energy to the garage. The Department of Parking and Transportation is likely to use the car, which will be recharged and birthed at the garage.
Utilities director for the university Cheryl Gomez assumes that around 1,100 hours of sunlight annually is likely to produce around 1,320 kWh of electricity annually through this project.
Cheryl went on to say that the car, which can cover around 120 miles between one charge and the next charge, is likely to consume around 3,100 kW of electricity when driven around 5,600 miles annually. This means the panels will balance around 43% of the energy consumption of the car.
Six 3 foot × 5 foot, 200-W photovoltaic cells were paid for by means of donations and set up the employees of Facilities Management. These panels, having a guarantee period of 25 years, are likely to decrease the carbon footprint of the university by around 0.8 metric tons of CO2 per year.
This electric car, as it runs on alternative energy, achieves zero emissions and releases no greenhouse gases and is also quiet in operation.
Source: http://www.virginia.edu/