Electric and hybrid cars are not as ‘new’ as you might think.  Thomas Edison researched and developed prototype alkaline batteries in an attempt to power automobiles, and by 1900, nearly one-third of the cars manufactured in the United States were powered by electricity.  As the state and federal governments funded the expansion of inter-state highways, the viability and popularity of electric vehicles waned in favor of the convenience, mileage capacity, and increased horsepower provided by gasoline-powered engines.  In recent years, the social, economic, and environmental costs associated with fossil fuel technologies has spurred a renewed interest in developing alternative energy sources for our most popular mode of transportation.  The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 set aside $2 billion for research and innovations associated with electric vehicle batteries and similar alternatives, and new prototypes have come a long way since Thomas Edison.

A group of students at Georgia Institute of Technology are pushing the envelope even further.  Instead of designing the typical gas/electric hybrid cars, the Solar Jackets have retrofitted existing vehicles to run on electric batteries and solar power.  By converting the sun’s energy into additional electric power, the roof-mounted solar cells help to power the car’s secondary systems.  In this article, the student group presents their mission and current projects.

In early 2008, as gas prices approached $4.00 per gallon, a small group of engineering students from the Georgia Institute of Technology founded the Solar Jackets. As a student organization that is interested in both the optimization of solar technology for grid parity as well as its potential for transportation applications, the Solar Jackets strives to formulate creative and powerful solutions to the energy problems facing modern society.
The team is a dynamic group of multi-disciplinary undergraduate and graduate students that builds solar and electric vehicles for exhibitions and competitions. The Solar Jackets operates with two key objectives – to advance green energy technology while cultivating formidable, hands on engineering and leadership experiences for undergraduate and graduate students of all majors. Georgia Tech is one of fifteen universities to have received a top score in 2010 from the Princeton Review for their break-through green efforts, and, likewise, Techʼs ongoing green initiatives attract national attention. The Solar Jackets is a student-run organization, built on the dedication and ambition of its members. Their projects promote cross-disciplinary learning and interaction, necessitating engineering excellence, leadership, and teamwork from all students involved.
The Solar Jacketsʼ first project is an electric vehicle (EV) conversion – they converted a 2001 Audi TT sports car into a Solar-Assisted Electric Vehicle (SAEV). Utilizing a unique blend of solar and stored-electric power, a conventional 120V outlet charges the SAEVʼs primary battery pack while thin film solar cells on the carʼs roof and hood charge the batteries for the 12-Volt auxiliary system, which includes electric power brakes and steering, headlights, radio, windows and much more. The modifications preserve the agile and sporty feel of the original gas-engine car, which now costs under $2.00 to bring to a full charge. The current lead-acid battery pack will provide an estimated range of 50 miles, although the team hopes to upgrade to a lithium-based technology in the future.
Since its inception in 2008, the team has tripled in size and jumped into a more experimental genre of green transportation known as competition solar racing. Unlike an EV conversion, which uses electricity from a wall outlet, a solar race car is powered by the sun alone via an integrated six square-meter solar array, and the carʼs chassis and composite body are designed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency and endurance.
The car will compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia. A 3000km, six-dayrace across the Australian outback, the World Solar Challenge is the pinnacle of solar racing events worldwide. They will be an important competitor among several universities and companies gathered to showcase the worldʼs premier solar-electric vehicle technology.

Read more about this awesome new technology

Corbin Klett, President
Email: cklett3@gatech.edu
Phone: 770.718.8510