Summary Reader Response: Draft 2

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 two 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.

The trial period in Singapore, according to Go-Ahead Singapore managing director, is to assess the buses performance with effectiveness and toughness of the panels. More diesel and potentially electric buses could be adopted with the collaboration of Land Transport Authority, who owns the buses, 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.

The implementation of solar photovoltaic on cars can reduce carbon emissions towards global warming. This integration is attainable in improving the overall performance of the car and cost savings.

The article "The Development of Solar PV Car to Reduce Carbon Emissions from the Transportation Sector" 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 to global warming, which is the trapping of sun's heat absorbed by a blanket of carbon gas. Heat that would normally escape from the earth, but because it is trapped, heats up the planet instead, triggering a chain reaction of issues. Carbon dioxide emissions reached an all-time high monthly average of 411 parts per million in 2018, according to National Geographic. 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 vehicles that use PV panels as a vehicle propulsion power source as well as an extra supply for the vehicle's electrical system.

By harnessing the photovoltaic effect on semiconductors, solar PV converts sunlight into electrical energy. A solar PV system must have three main components: PV panels, charge controllers, and batteries. In automobiles, there are two types of solar PV systems. In system A, the solar PV system is used to support the vehicle's power supply. This system is used in electric vehicles powered by batteries and uses an electric motor. The PV panel and on-grid power can both be used to charge the batteries. In system B, 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 system, the vehicle switches between a gasoline engine and an electric motor as the primary source depending on the user's needs and resource availability. Lightyear One is a car designed in the Netherlands that has solar panels on its roof and hood. In one hour, Lightyear One can charge the battery to a power equivalent of 570 kilometres.

The article “Automotive Applications of Solar Energy” explains the misguided tendency of thinking in terms of power rather than energy. According to current Statistics for Road Transport, for a typical use in urban 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, on the other hand, 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 (Neil C, 2006), solar panels 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 where solar radiation and temperature fluctuations can be greater than in a stationary plane. Because of the orientation shifts and shadows, all these characteristics are amplified and difficult to drive. To draw the most electricity at the current solar irradiation level, photovoltaic plants must match the PV source with the load.

These articles demonstrate the potential of solar panels to save money and reduce carbon footprint when driving on a regular basis. They can help reduce fuel usage and expand vehicle performance. With the advancement of PV technology, the achievability will be remarkable.

Arieffadillah, M. F., Kumara, I. N. S., & Divayana, Y. (2021) The Development of Solar PV Car to Reduce Carbon Emissions from the Transport Sector.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/I-Nyoman-Satya-Kumara
2/publication/350950598_The_Development_of_Solar_PV_Car_to_Reduce_Carbon_Emissions_from_the_Transport_Sector/links/607b57fb907dcf667ba83d16/The-Development-of-Solar-PV-Car-to-Reduce-Carbon-Emissions-from-the-Transport-Sector.pdf

Rizzo, G. (2010). Automotive applications of solar energy. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 43(7), 174-185. https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1474667015368257?token=3F68A2510D1AC0C196AA5C2BFD5411C50B860D98472DFAAEDED56191F243C35FAB7031CB71E95488B1008323FD66F653&originRegion=eu-west-1&originCreation=20220213050014