32 Electric-Solar Powered Car Regulations
32.1 Concept
The Electric-Solar Powered Car Division is designed to simulate a “real world” solar application. The solar car itself will be a two passenger vehicle that could easily run in a neighborhood environment. The Solar Power Charging Station simulates a permanent facility that would be used to charge the vehicle at home or at work.
32.2 Physical Regulations
32.2.1
The Electric-Solar Powered Car is governed by all the regulations set out for a Classic Division Solar Car, except where exceptions are provided in the following sections
32.2.2 Dimensions
The Electric-Solar Powered Car will have the following minimum dimensions: Length - 4.5 meters; Height - 1.5 meters; Width - 1.5 meters. Maximum dimensions as described in Section 5.1.1 do not apply to Electric-Solar Powered Cars.
32.2.3 Configuration
The Electric-Solar Powered Car must accommodate two passengers.
(a) The passengers must be seated side-by-side in a comfortable upright position to simulate a “real world” driving environment.
(b) One passenger will be designated the “driver”; the other passenger will be designated the “technician” for communications, data collection, and strategy coordination.
32.2.4 Driver Weight
The minimum weight of the two drivers must be a total of at least 320 pounds. If the sum of the drivers’ weight is less than 320 pounds, the solar car must carry a ballast to compensate. This will be checked at any driver change during the race.
32.2.5 Power
The Electric Solar Powered Car will not carry solar cells. It will be powered by interchangeable battery boxes charged by the sun at the team’s Solar Power Charging Station.
32.2.6 Battery
Teams can have two battery boxes: one battery box will be in the solar car; the other battery box will be charging at the Solar Power Charging Station.
(a) Each of the two battery boxes shall have a maximum battery capacity of 2 kilowatt hours measured at a 20 hour discharge rate.
(b) The batteries must be enclosed in a rigid battery box that can be easily installed and removed from the solar car. The solar car battery box must have a forced-air ventilation system as described in Section 5.4.3(f). The charging station battery box must have a forced-air ventilation system that vents exhaust away from those monitoring the station.
(c) Teams must develop a system for safe battery box removal and installation. This means that no discharge of electricity is allowed (“sparking”) during this process.
(d) The team’s Race Judge must be present during any battery box removal or installation.
(e) Teams wishing to reconfigure batteries in the battery box must receive prior approval from the Event Director.
32.2.7 Disconnects
The Electric Solar Powered Car must have two Motor Disconnects per Rule 5.4.5. A single Array Disconnect must be located on the Solar Power Charging Station that is readily accessible to bystanders. No Array Disconnects are required for the Electric Solar Powered Car.
32.2.8 Trunk
The Electric Solar Powered Car must have an externally accessible storage space located within the car body that is at least 61cm long, 46cm wide, and 30.5 cm tall.
32.3 Solar Power Charging Station
32.3.1 Array
The solar power charging station can have an array no larger than 5 meters by 1.8 meters. Solar modules (either individual cells or panels) are restricted to those allowed in the Classic Division, per Section 10.1.1.
32.3.2 Location
The solar power charging station, once set up at the Texas Motor Speedway, will be permanent for the duration of the race. The location of the power stations will offer convenient access to the garage and the track.
(a) The solar power charging stations will be set up in a designated area offering good sun throughout daylight hours.
(b) The base of the solar power charging station cannot be moved once located in the designated area, but the array panel can be rotated to track the movement of the sun.
32.3.3 Stability/Durability
The solar power charging station must be a stable facility capable of withstanding reasonable weather conditions. This includes gusts of wind up to 40 mph and rain.
32.3.4 Access to Power Station
Teams in this division cannot access the Power Station prior to 6:30 AM or after 9:00 PM. At all other times, the power station can be used to charge the battery boxes.
32.3.5 Charging after 5:00 PM
Teams are free to exchange battery boxes after they leave the track.
32.3.6 Cross-Country Races
Solar power charging stations must be properly secured to the solar vehicle trailer for use during a cross-country race. The charging stations will remain on the trailer for the duration of the race. They cannot be removed from the trailer. Teams must demonstrate the stability of their trailered power station at scrutineering.
32.4 Battery Box Exchange Procedure during Race Hours
32.4.1
Solar cars running low on energy will exit the track, enter the designated solar power charging station area, remove the battery box from the solar car, and install the freshly charged battery box. The Race Judge must observe the battery box swap for safety
32.4.2
Once installed, the solar car will return to the track and continue the drive, or move to the garage for maintenance
32.4.3
At a closed-track event, solar cars performing a battery box exchange shall follow a defined track such that the distance traveled for each team in the division remains the same
32.5 Driving
The Electric Solar Powered Car can drive during the same operating hours as Classic Division cars.
32.6 Scrutineering
Vehicles in the Electric-Solar Powered Division must pass all scrutineering stations, along with a special Scrutineering Station designed to evaluate the requirements for the Electric-Solar Power Car and the Solar Power Charging Station. Scrutineering judges will be observing if the team has a safe, efficient procedure to remove and install the battery boxes, and that this exchange does not produce a release of electricity (sparks).
32.7 Electric-Solar Power Team Assignments
Electric-Solar Powered Vehicle Teams will be assigned to accomplish one special task each day. This is designed to demonstrate that electric-solar powered cars can serve a real-world function. For example, the team may be assigned to stop at a grocery store or Walmart to pick up certain groceries, and transport those groceries to the end-of-day Race Stop.