Assignment 2: (Design) Summary & Reader Response (Analysis) Draft 3

 

The article “Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels”, Kok (2021) explains the objective of implementation, test period and plan of action. The six-month trial began in March with the installation of versatile solar panels on the roof of “Man A22 Euro 6 diesel-powered buses”. The panels produce energy that charges the battery on the buses which is generally used for ignition and supplying power. Thus, lowering the engine load which previously depended solely on the vehicle’s alternator. According to calculations from a similar trial in the United Kingdom, the application will save bus operator, Go-Ahead Singapore, 1400 litres of diesel per bus annually, resulting in a reduction of 3.7 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Kok quoted from Andrew Thompson, Go-Ahead Singapore managing director, that the trial period in Singapore is to assess the buses performance with the effectiveness and toughness of the panels. More diesel and electric buses could be potentially adopted with the collaboration of Land Transport Authority if the results exceed expectations. Buses approved will be monitored closely for scheduled inspection and the expected savings incurred in four years will resolve their trial expenditure.

Kok’s article illustrates about buses in the transport industry, this application can also be applied to cars. The implementation of solar photovoltaic on cars reduces carbon emissions towards global warming. The integration is attainable in improving the overall performance of the car and cost savings.

The use of solar photovoltaic can reduce carbon emissions. An article by Arieffadillah et al. (2021) examined the research and development of photovoltaic (PV) powered cars that could be commercialized in the future. The transportation industry has contributed a substantial amount of carbon emissions towards global warming, which is the trapping of sun's heat absorbed by a blanket of carbon gas. Carbon dioxide emissions reached an all-time high with a monthly average of 411 parts per million in 2018. The carbon emissions are always growing as the fuel needed is directly proportional to the unceasing growth of vehicle utilisation. To reduce pollutants, many automobile firms have created cars that uses PV panels as a vehicle propulsion power source as well as an extra supply for the vehicle's electrical system.

 

Incorporating solar photovoltaic to cars can increase its efficiency. By harnessing the photovoltaic effect on semiconductors, solar PV converts sunlight into electrical energy. A solar PV system consists of three main components which are PV panels, charge controllers and batteries. In cars, there are two types of solar PV systems. The first system, the solar PV is used to support the vehicle's power supply. This system is used in electric cars powered by batteries and uses an electric motor. The PV panel and on-grid power can both be used to charge the batteries. In the second system, the solar PV is utilized as a support for the vehicle’s power or charging system which can be used to both support the electrical system and drive the car. In a hybrid setting, the vehicle switches between a gasoline engine and an electric motor as the primary source depending on the user's needs and resource availability. (Arieffadillah et al., 2021) An example is the Lightyear One, a car designed in the Netherlands and can charge its battery to a power equivalent of 570 kilometres just from its PV panels.

Solar photovoltaic can increase cost savings in due course. An article by Rizzo (2010) explains the misguided tendency of thinking in terms of power rather than energy. Driving of no more than one hour per day and an average power between 7 and 10 kW, the net energy required for traction can be around 8 kWh per day. A PV panel with a peak power of 300 W, conversely, can run at close to full power for long hours, especially if advanced tracking techniques are used. Solar energy can account for up to 20-30% of the required energy which saves fuel consumption. According to recent studies by Neil (2006) as cited in Rizzo (2010) solar panels when applied to hybrid cars could be even more cost effective than attaching to buildings in terms of overall cost reduction. The author's calculations of solar panels displacing fuel prices for vehicles versus solar panels displacing energy for buildings further supported the study.

However, compared to most fixed uses, the surface area of solar panels on a car is limited. Thus, maximizing their power extraction by identifying and resolving any issues that can compromise their efficiency is critical and needs further development.  Due to the need to cover a curved surface, solar radiation and temperature fluctuations can be greater than in a photovoltaic power station. Because of the orientation shifts and shadows, all these characteristics are amplified when driving as explained by Rizzo.

 

These articles unfold the potential of solar panels which can increase cost savings and reduce carbon footprint when driving on a regular basis. Solar photovoltaic can help lower fuel usage and expand vehicle performance. With the advancement of PV technology, achieving the ideal design is feasible.

 

References:

Arieffadillah, M. F., Kumara, I. N. S., & Divayana, Y. (2021) The Development of Solar PV Car to Reduce Carbon Emissions from the Transport Sector. Journal of Electrical Electronics and Informatics 5(1):10-20 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350950598_The_Development_of_Solar_PV_Car_to_Reduce_Carbon_Emissions_from_the_Transport_Sector

Kok, Y (2021) Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/first-public-buses-with-solar-panels-hit-the-road-in-six-month-trial-by-go-ahead

Rizzo, G. (2010). Automotive applications of solar energy. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 43(7), 174-185. https://doi.org/10.3182/20100712-3-DE-2013.00199