CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study
This project is to improve and develop the significance of solar energy in automobile. A method of upgrading the conventional tricycle that uses petroleum as a means of energy to Solar-Powered Electrical tricycle that is powered by an electric motor which gets its supply from photovoltaic (PV) panels. The PV panels must be mounted and installed on the tricycle without compromising riding comfortability. The method employs an electric motor that are easily connected and separated for ease of transport. The solar panel is connected to the charge controller and then connected to the batteries for collecting solar energy and converting it to electrical for recharging. The batteries are now connected to the DC motor for providing electrical power to drive the tricycle. This project is to improve and develop the significance of solar energy in automobile.
This project is a combination of technology used typically in automobile industries, solar industries and electrical industries. Therefore, this design of solar powered tricycle have been built for the purpose of solar tricycle only.
1.2 Aim
The aim of this project is to design and construct a solar powered tricycle.
1.3 Project objectives
The objectives of this project are:
- To design and construct a solar powered tricycle
- To develop a tricycle that use renewable energy, enviromentally friendly and cheap.
1.4 Scope of project
The scope of this project is limited to the design and construction of a solar powered tricycle that is powered by an electric motor which gets its power from photo voltaic (PV) panel and uses solar energy and to convert the solar energy to the electrical energy by using solar cells, then converting this electrical energy to mechanical energy by using DC motor to run tricycle.