Solar car
First Claim
1. A solar car comprising:
- a structural frame;
an electric motor;
a battery to power the electric motor; and
a solar car panel coupled to the structural frame, the solar car panel forming an exterior surface of the solar car, and the solar car panel including;
a solar cell to charge the battery, wherein the solar cell has a three-dimensional shape that corresponds to the exterior surface of the solar car;
a first encapsulant layer that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, wherein the first encapsulant layer includes polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE);
a second encapsulant layer on the first encapsulant layer, wherein the second encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, and wherein the second encapsulant layer includes silicone; and
a third encapsulant layer on the second encapsulant layer, wherein the third encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, and wherein the third encapsulant layer includes glass.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods for a solar car. The exterior of the solar car is comprised of smoothly curved and continuous photovoltaic cells. The exterior car parts, e.g., roof, doors, hood, trunk and so forth, may include integrated photovoltaic cells, all manufactured in the shape of the corresponding car parts. The photovoltaic cells are meta-encapsulated in an edgeless manner, and may utilize superconducting anodes. A first encapsulate may be polychlorotrifluoroethylene, an extreme water barrier. A second encapsulate, e.g., silicone, may be a water barrier and shock absorber. A third encapsulate may be UV stabilized polycarbonate or low iron glass. A street legal solar car may be constructed upon an electric car chassis. A competition solar car has one or more hyper-efficient electric motors, that may utilize superconducting wire in their armatures. Superconducting wire may also be used in the vehicle chassis.
99 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A solar car comprising:
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a structural frame; an electric motor; a battery to power the electric motor; and a solar car panel coupled to the structural frame, the solar car panel forming an exterior surface of the solar car, and the solar car panel including; a solar cell to charge the battery, wherein the solar cell has a three-dimensional shape that corresponds to the exterior surface of the solar car; a first encapsulant layer that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, wherein the first encapsulant layer includes polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE); a second encapsulant layer on the first encapsulant layer, wherein the second encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, and wherein the second encapsulant layer includes silicone; and a third encapsulant layer on the second encapsulant layer, wherein the third encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulates the solar cell, and wherein the third encapsulant layer includes glass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23)
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14. A solar car comprising:
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a structural frame; an electric motor; a battery to power the electric motor; and a solar car panel coupled to the structural frame, the solar car panel forming an exterior surface of the solar car, and the solar car panel including; a solar cell to charge the battery, wherein the solar cell has a three-dimensional shape that corresponds to the exterior surface of the solar car; a first encapsulant layer that at least partially encapsulates the solar cell; a second encapsulant layer on the first encapsulant layer, wherein the second encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulates the solar cell; a third encapsulant layer on the second encapsulant layer, wherein the third encapsulant layer at least partially encapsulates the solar cell; an anode wire coupled to an anode of the solar cell; and a cathode wire coupled to a cathode of the solar cell; wherein the anode wire and cathode wire extend through an opening in the third encapsulant layer, and wherein the opening is filled with a fill material that is different from respective materials of the second and third encapsulant layers. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24)
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25. A solar car comprising:
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a structural frame; an electric motor, wherein the electric motor includes; an outer ring having electromagnets; an inner ring having permanent magnets; a conductive wire coupled between the battery and the electromagnets to activate the electromagnets and thereby drive the motor, wherein the conductive wire includes a plurality of conductive strands, and wherein individual strands of the plurality of conductive strands include; a first layer and a second layer coupled to one another, wherein the first layer and second layer are atomic or molecular monolayers and at least one of the first layer or second layer has a hexagonal atomic or molecular structure; and an first insulating layer on the first layer, the first insulating layer is a first insulating material; a second insulating layer on the second layer, wherein the second insulating layer is the first insulating material or a second insulating material; and a coating material surrounding the first layer, the second layer, the first insulating layer, and the second insulating layer; a battery to power the electric motor; and a solar car panel coupled to the structural frame, the solar car panel forming an exterior surface of the solar car, and the solar car panel including a solar cell to charge the battery. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification