Objectives

This project aims to promote the knowledge of unskilled young undergraduates in the field of energy conversion and related environmental problems, with particular emphasis to sustainable transportation, by means of their active participation in a didactic project for the design and manufacturing of an innovative prototype of hybrid solar vehicle (HSV). The diffusion of this kind of vehicle could significantly contribute in reducing fossil fuel utilization and carbon dioxide emissions.

The hybrid electrical vehicles (HEV), adopting both a thermal engine and an electric motor, can reduce fuel consumption and emissions up to 40%, thanks to the optimized recourse to two propulsion systems and to regenerative braking. The integration with photovoltaic panels would produce further savings in fuel consumptions and emissions, thanks to the use of solar energy, free and largely diffused. The presence of a thermal engine would extend the vehicle range also in absence of solar radiation and when battery is flat.

Recent studies have shown that, in case of intermittent use in urban driving (city-car), as it happens for a large number of users, further reduction up to 20%-40% respect to a HEV could be achieved, so cutting in half the fuel consumption with respect to a conventional car. Economic feasibility of these vehicles could also represent a realistic goal in next future, considering fuel price trends and the expected cost reduction and advances in batteries and in solar technology.