Summary & Reader Response Draft 4 (after feedback)
The article “Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of
public buses with solar panels”, Kok (2021) explains the objective of
implementation of installing versatile solar panels with a test period of six
months from March on the roof of diesel buses to improve efficiency. It also
looks at the course of action to monitor and expedite the trial. The panels
produce energy that charges the battery, generally used for ignition and
supplying power, on the buses with the aim on 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.
The value of solar powered buses can also be brought forward towards
the applications on cars. The implementation of solar photovoltaic
cells also known as solar panels can reduce carbon emissions, which contribute
towards global warming in a car setting. The integration of solar panels on
cars is attainable in improving the overall performance of the car by lowering
fuel usage and cost savings.
An article by Arieffadillah et al. (2021) examined the
research and development of photovoltaic (PV) powered cars that could be
commercialized in the future which indicates the reduction of carbon emission and
the increase performance on the car. 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 conducted at Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory.
(Nunez, 2019) 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 as explained by Arieffadillah et al. (2021)
Incorporating solar photovoltaic to cars can increase efficiency
of the overall performance of the car. By harnessing the photovoltaic effect on
semiconductors, solar PV converts sunlight into electrical energy. Arieffadillah
et al. (2021) elaborated that 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. In the
first system, the solar PV is used to support the vehicle's main 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. A hybrid 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 that can charge its battery to a power
equivalent of 570 kilometres just from its PV panels.
Using solar photovoltaic cells in cars 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 them to buildings
in terms of overall cost reduction. Neil (2006) 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 for solar panels, 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. As such, the need
to cover a curved surface on a car, the solar radiation and temperature
fluctuations can be greater than in a photovoltaic station. This is due to the
orientation shifts and shadows. These characteristics are amplified when
driving. (Rizzo, 2010)
These
articles unfold the potential of solar panels implemented in cars, which can
increase cost savings and reduce carbon footprint when driven on a regular
basis. Solar photovoltaic can also 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.
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
Nunez, C. (2019). Carbon dioxide levels are at a record high.
Here’s what you need to know. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/greenhouse-gases
Thank you for the revision.
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