Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol.47, No.1, 259-263, 1997
Evaluation of electric motor and gasoline engine hybrid car using solar cells
We evaluated the utility of a hybrid car in which both power sources of an electric motor and a gasoline engine are used and solar cells are settled on the roof and the bonnet. An array of 1.6 kW solar cells was installed on the top of a building to charge the batteries by solar energy. Though the capacities of the electric motor and batteries are half compared with conventional electric vehicles, we confirmed that this hybrid car has sufficient utility for practical use. The whole electric energy consumed in a day can be supplied by a 1.6 kW solar cell system.