COLUMBIA CONVENT

Sr. Sec. School Affiliated To CBSE

-: THEME:TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATION

A Project Report on

\Solar Pathways[ the next level to travel

Physics practical investigatory project

This report contains information on our Research Project Solar Pathways to generate electricity through solar energy and to promote use of electric vehicles reducing the use of natural (Non renewable) resources.

Submited by:Submitted To:-

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Before thanking anyone else, we would like to show our gratefulness to the team who have Worked so hard for the completition of this investigatory project So as to enhance their research and presentation skills. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to all the teachers who directly or indirectly helped us in our project, specially Mrs. Sapna Dolkar Mam. Last but not the least, we would like to thank all our friends and parents who have directly or indirectly helped us in completing this project.

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the presented dissertation entitled Solar Pathways - the next level to travel has been completed by Sudarshan Badjatiya , Mihir Muley, Ayush Jain, Ameya Naik and Dharmendra Solanki under the guidance of Mrs. Sapna Dolkar Mam.

PRINCIPAL s SEAL AND SIGNATURE

CONTENTS
Preface
Drawbacks Of Conventional Roads

The Dream
Accidents Drastically Reduced Recycling Waste Smart Grid

Working
Panel Layers

Cost Effectiveness
Costings

The Figures
Factual Numbers

Electric Vehicles
Electric Vehicles(EV) Hybrid Vehicles Plug-In Hubrid Vehicles Indian EV s

Comparison Of Fossil Fuel With Electricity Conclusion Bibliography

3

Introduction
Let s go green to get our globe clean

PREFACE
In 2010 alone, we've lost lives in coal mine and oil rig disasters and gas line explosions. The Gulf of Mexico has become a nightmare: lives and jobs lost ways of life gone. What (more) is it going to take to drive us to wean ourselves off of our dependency on fossil fuels? In 2011, we've experienced record tornados, fires, and floods across the globe. How long will we keep our heads in the sand? Years ago, when the phrase "Global Warming" began gaining popularity, we started batting around the idea of replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with solar panels that could be driven upon. We thought of the "black box" on airplanes: We didn't know what material that black box was made of, but it seemed to be able to protect sensitive electronics from the worst of airline crashes.

Suppose we made a section of road out of this material and housed solar cells to collect energy, which could pay for the cost of the panel, thereby creating a road that would pay for itself over time. What if we added LEDs to "paint" the road lines from beneath, lighting up the road for safer night time driving? What if we added a heating element in the surface (like the defrosting wire in the rear window of our cars) to prevent snow/ice accumulation in northern climates? The ideas and possibilities just continued to roll in and the Solar Roadway project was born. Imagine a world-wide system where the "lit" half of the world is always powering the "dark" half of the world!

Everyone has power. No more power shortages, no more roaming power outages, no more need to burn coal (50% of greenhouse gases). Less need for fossil fuels and less dependency upon foreign oil, much less pollution. How about this for a long term advantage: an electric road allows all-electric vehicles to recharge anywhere: rest stops, parking lots, etc. They would then have the same range as a gasoline-powered vehicle. Internal combustion engines would become obsolete. Our dependency on oil would come to an abrupt end.

It's time to upgrade our infrastructure - roads and power grid - to the 21st century.

Drawbacks of Conventional Roads

Accidents and breakdown: There are more chances of accidents and breakdown in case of motor transport. Unsuitable for long distance and bulky traffic: This mode of transport is unsuitable and costly for transporting cheap and bulky gods over long distances.
6

Slow speed: The speed of motor transport is comparatively slow and limited. Lack of organization: The road transport is comparatively less organized. More often, it is irregular and undependable. The rates charged for transportation are also unsuitable and unequal. Paving cost: The paving cost of the concrete road is little higher compared to asphalt paving. Maintenance Problem: In case the concrete road breaks, the whole concrete slab needs to be replaced. Safety features: In rainy and the winter season vehicles tend to slip or slide on concrete road due to rain and snow. Durability: heavy rain and other extreme weather conditions damage the asphalt road, and the roads need to be repaired frequently. Weather Pollution: Melting asphalt produces lots of harmful green house gases. Also costly petroleum is required to produce asphalt.

THE DREAM
Necessity is the need of Invention

THE DREAM
Our main goal is to cover every surface freely exposed to sunlight with smart solar panels that will harness enough energy to power the entire nation and reduce the dependency on fossil fuel. We know that this will not happen overnight. We'll need to start off small: driveways, bike paths, patios, sidewalks, parking lots, playgrounds, etc. Imagine one major fast-food chain retrofitting their parking lots across the nation: an all-electric vehicle (EV) could now recharge in those parking lots when needed. This removes the range limitation for EVs (eliminating their need to be recharged at home every night) and makes them far more practical. People would be more likely to trade in their internal-combustion engine vehicles for all-electric vehicles. Other businesses would see the advantage of retrofitting their parking lots: they could either go off-grid or put a huge dent in their monthly electric bill. They would also attract more customers, who would eat or shop in their stores as their EVs recharged in their parking lots. As more businesses jump on board, the EVs become more and more practical. With businesses going solar (rather than using electricity created by burning fossil fuels) and more drivers opting for EVs (over gas/diesel engines), the beginning of the end of fossil fuel dependency would finally be at hand. After the Solar Pathways technology is proven in at local level, then the next logical step would be residential roads, where speeds are slower than highways and trucks are not as common. The final goal should be the nation's highways. We also thought using mutual inductance to charge EVs traveling over the Solar Road Panels. While

it may not (although we don't know this yet) provide enough electricity to completely charge the EV in motion, it would certainly extend its range. Each Solar Road Panel contains a microprocessor that monitors and controls the panel, while communicating with neighboring panels and the vehicles traveling overhead. This means that you have a communications device every few feet in the road: every road, everywhere. Imagine what you can do with this kind of control: the dashed road lines that you see on highways can "travel" alongside you at the designated speed limit. If your car is moving faster than the lines, you are going too fast. If your car is being passed by the line, you're driving too slowly. You can maintain the proper speed while never having to look at your speedometer. The road can warn you of traffic congestion ahead and even recommend detours around it. You can enter a destination into your onboard GPS and an arrow can appear in the road directly ahead of your vehicle to "lead" you there, rather than audibly describing how to get to your destination. Crosswalk panels can alert drivers when pedestrians are on the crosswalk. Once the crosswalk panels detect a pedestrian, the LEDs within the crosswalk begin flashing and a warning is displayed in front of oncoming vehicles. If a vehicle crosses the center line too many times within a given distance, a ring of LEDs can be drawn around the vehicle, which will travel with it indefinitely. This will warn other drivers of a potential danger and will alert law enforcement officials of a potential problem. It may just be someone tuning their radio, eating a Big Mac, reading a map, or applying makeup (we've seen all of these), but it may also be an impaired driver on his/her way to taking out a family of four. The Solar Roadways could drastically reduce the number of deaths/injuries caused by impaired driving. This too, ought to result in lowered insurance rates for all of us.

10

Accidents drastically reduced

Unlike the dark roads we drive on by night today, the Solar Roadways will have LEDs which will "paint" the lanes, and can be instantly customized as needed. Many people tell us that they, like us, have trouble seeing the road lines at night, particularly when the oncoming headlights are blinding them or when it's raining. With an illuminated highway, accidents will be reduced and nighttime driving will be safer for all. There is no need to expend energy lighting desolate roads when no cars are traveling, so the intelligent roadway will tell the LEDs to light up only when it senses cars on its surface - say 1/2 km ahead and 100m behind the vehicle as it travels. This way, drivers will know an oncoming car is ahead when they see the lights on the other side of the road begin to light up ahead. The LEDs can also be programmed to move along with cars at the speed limit, warning drivers instantly when they are driving too fast. The LEDs will also be used to paint words right into the road, warning drivers of an animal on the road, a detour ahead, an accident, or construction work. Central control stations will be able to instantly customize the lines and words in real time, alleviating traffic congestion and making the roads more efficient as well as safer. Cities and towns will be able to customize the lines for roads and parking spaces to meet their own unique needs.

11

Recycling waste
Recycled materials can be used for the internal support structure. Over 46,000 pieces of plastic litter are floating on every square mile of ocean today. In the Central Pacific, there are up to 6 pounds of marine litter to every pound of plankton. Trash bags, water bottles and other plastics, and rubber tires can be mixed with organic materials to create parts of the Solar Road Panels: five billion of them for the U.S. alone! Incorporating this waste into the internal support structure of the Solar Road Panel will be a focus of our Phase II research. What better way to "kill two birds with one stone" than to give the garbage that sits in our landfills and oceans a new home inside the very panels that can power our world? We want to make every effort to keep the project "green", following the adage for reduce, reuse and recycle. This will be true from manufacturing all the way through to installation and maintenance.

Smart Grid

Our current power grid is based on centralized power stations. Distribution of power is handled through transmission lines (overhead and underground), relay stations, and transformers. When a line goes down (ice, lighting, wind, tress,

12

utility pole hit by car, etc.), everyone on the wrong end of the line loses power until the damage is repaired. If a power station goes down, an entire section of the country goes dark. The Solar Pathways on the other hand, replaces all current centralized power stations including coal- and nuclear-powered electricity generation plants. With the Solar Roadways, the road becomes the power grid, eliminating the need for unsightly utility poles and relay stations. Power is generated everywhere - every road, parking lot, and driveway. No more power outages, roaming or otherwise.

PANNEL LAYERS
Each individual panel consists of three basic layers:

Translucent Surface Layer - translucent and high-strength, it is rough enough to provide great traction, yet still passes sunlight through to the solar collector cells embedded within, along with LEDs and a heating element. It is capable of handling today's heaviest loads under the worst of conditions. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer beneath it.

13

Silicon Layer- Contains a microprocessor board with support circuitry for sensing loads on the surface and controlling a heating element. No more snow/ice removal and no more school/business closings due to inclement weather. The on-board microprocessor controls lighting, communications, monitoring, etc. With a communications device every 12 feet, the Solar Roadway is an intelligent highway system.

Foundation Layer- While the silicon layer collects energy from the sun, it is the base plate layer that distributes power (collected from the electronics layer) and data signals (phone, TV, internet, etc.) "Down line" to all homes and businesses connected to the Solar Roadway. Weatherproof, it protects the electronics layer above it.

14

COST EFFECTIVENESS
The More You Give, The More You Get

15

COSTINGS
What will it take to make the Solar Roadway financially self-sustaining (the financial benefits over the design life outweigh its initial cost)? There are multiple ways that the Solar Roadway can generate revenue: . Through the generation of electricity. . By transporting cleaned water to municipalities or agricultural centers. . By leasing the internal or roadside conduit to entities such as telephone, highspeed internet, cable TV, etc. . By selling advertising in the road or in parking lots with the configurable LEDs. . By charging people or companies to recharge their electric vehicles Since it would be difficult to guess what could be anticipated with the later four methods of creating return on investment (ROI), we'll focus on the one method for generating revenue that can be calculated: electricity generation. The average cost of residential electricity is Rs. 3/KWH . The cost of electricity has increased an average of Rs. 1/KWH/yr. . Our target cost for a Solar Road Panel is Rs. 40,000 and our target lifespan is 15-20 years. The whole project would cost across 16 lacks/km

16

THE FIGURES
Your Contribution can Help Achieve a Solution

17

THE FIGURES
Here in our city, we have approximately 26,000 sq. km/16,120 sq. mi of road stretch. Think how much energy we can harness? In labs, solar cell efficiency has exceeded 42%, but you can't get your hands on these - at least not yet. For our calculations, we looked up commercially (and cost competitive) available solar panels. We can use solar panels with 15% efficiency. For our calculations, let's use the following assumptions: y We use solar cells that have an 15% efficiency y We average only 3 hours of peak daylight hours per day (4 x 365 = 1095 hours per year) Single panel offers a 200 Watt solar panel rated at 15% efficiency. Its surface area is approx 10 square feet. If we covered the entire 28,962.36 square miles of impervious surfaces with solar collection panels, we'd get: => [16,120(mi2)] *[5291 mi2/ft.] / [10 ft2/200W] => [16,120(mi2)] *[2,79,94,681 mi2/ft2.] / [10 ft2/200W] =>9025485154400 W =>9.02 Billion KW

18

In India we have over 1500 hours of daylight in a year. So, for a whole year we have [9.02 * 1500] = 13,530 Billion KW hours of electricity. As for fair reasons, let us assume only 30% of energy is available. Therefore, 30% of 13,530 Billion KW-H = 4,059 Billion KW-H i.e., we still have 4,059 Billion KW-H of electricity still available.

19

Electric Vehicles
Less Pollution is the Best Solution

20

ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EV)

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as all-electric vehicles (AEVs), are electric vehicles whose main energy storage is in the chemical energy of batteries. BEVs are the most common form of what is defined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as zero emission vehicle (ZEV) because they produce no tailpipe emissions at the point of operation. The electrical energy carried onboard a BEV to power the motors is obtained from a variety of battery chemistries arranged into battery packs. For additional range genset trailers or pusher trailers are sometimes used, forming a type of hybrid vehicle. Batteries used in electric vehicles include "flooded" lead-acid, absorbed glass mat, NiCd, nickel metal hydride, Li-ion, Li-poly and zinc-air batteries. Attempts at building viable, modern battery-powered electric vehicles began in the 1950s with the introduction of the first modern (transistor controlled) electric car - the Henney Kilowatt, even though the concept was out in the market since 1890. Despite the poor sales of the early batterypowered vehicles, development of various battery-powered vehicles continued through the midst 1990s, with such models as the General Motors EV1 and the Toyota RAV4 EV. The 2011 Nissan Leaf was introduced in Japan and the U.S. in December 2010 and in several European countries in early 2011. Battery powered cars have primarily used lead-acid batteries and NiMH batteries. Lead-acid batteries' recharge capacity is considerably reduced if they're discharged beyond 75% on a regular basis, making them a less-thanideal solution. NiMH batteries are a better choice, but are considerably more expensive than lead-acid. Lithium-ion battery powered vehicles such
21

as the Venturi Fetish and the Tesla Roadster have recently demonstrated excellent performance and range, but they remain expensive, nevertheless is used in most mass production models launched in the late 2000s. EV Battery Types The following types of batteries have the potential to power electric vehicles: Lead-Acid provides a low-cost, low-range (less than 100 miles) option with a 3-year life cycle. Nickel-Metal Hydride Offers a greater driving range and life cycle, but is currently more expensive than lead-acid batteries. Nickel-Cadmium Offers a range of 100 miles, a long life, and faster recharges than lead-acid batteries, but is more expensive and has lower peak power and recharging efficiency. Lithium-Ion Offers the potential for a long driving range and life cycle, but is currently very costly. Zinc-Air Currently under development. Provides superior performance compared to current battery technology. Flywheels Currently under development. Could be capable of storing a larger amount of energy in smaller, lighter weight systems than chemical batteries. More than 4,000 electric vehicles (EVs) are traveling U.S. roads and highways. Although some EVs are found nationwide, California has the greatest concentration of the alternative fuel vehicles. EVs do not produce tailpipe emissions, but generators producing the electricity used to charge EV batteries do emit pollutants.

22

Electricity for EVs is produced by power plants, which send it to substations through transmission lines and then to homes and businesses through distribution systems. An EV s electric motor converts electricity usually from a battery pack into mechanical power that runs the vehicle. After a certain vehicle driving range, however, EV batteries must be recharged.

Availability Several major auto manufacturers are producing high-performance EVs, including passenger cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and buses. Homes, government facilities, and businesses must have adequate capacity for vehicle recharging, however, and special outlet hookups or upgrades may be required. In California and Arizona, some shopping malls, grocery stores, hotels, and banks have chargers in place to fuel electric vehicles. Auto manufacturers also are beginning to sell hybrid vehicles that combine an electric motor with a separate gasoline or diesel engine. Hybrid vehicles can more than double the gas mileage of conventional gasoline- or diesel-powered cars and can cut emissions significantly. Hybrid vehicles do not require the use of recharging stations.

Affordability The Indian car market is growing rapidly. It has just overtaken Japan and emerged as the largest small car market in the world. It is slowly becoming a hub for luxury cars as well. Moreover, in near future the Indian car market will witness a slew of electric and hybrid car launches. At Rs. 7 lakh 15 lakh, EVs cost more than comparable, mass-produced gasoline- or dieselpowered vehicles. Some manufacturers lease EVs to minimize maintenance
23

costs and potential risks such as lower resale values associated with the new technology. To encourage EV purchases, some government agencies offer incentives to offset the higher initial costs. Some states offer partial sales tax exemptions, one-time income tax credits, or reduced license and registration fees. EV purchase prices can potentially be offset by lower "fuel" and maintenance costs. The average monthly electricity cost for a typical EV driver is less compared to petrol. If EVs are recharged overnight, off-peak rates can decrease the cost of powering the vehicles. EVs can also have lower maintenance costs because they have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines and do not require tune-ups or oil changes. One obstacle to affordability, however, is that EVs leadacid batteries must be replaced every 3 years at a cost of approximately Rs. 5,000-7,000.

Charging The total charging time of an EV (Car) is generally 5 7 Hours (maximum) so in night we can recharge it easily or we can keep a spare battery for charging.

Performance

24

Testing has demonstrated that EV acceleration, speed, and handling can equal or exceed that of conventional vehicles. EVs are also more energy efficient and produce less noise than gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles, particularly in stop-and-go traffic, because the engine does not run if the car is not moving. Currently, a large drawback is that the driving range of EVs is much less than that for gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. Depending on battery type, climate, and terrain, an EV can travel from 40 to 120 miles on a single battery charge. There are also space considerations with EVs because their batteries can be large and heavy, resulting in less room for cargo or passengers. If we generate the electricity through the Solar Pathways then sure we can get rid from this problem and wherever we need we can implement the charging system as conventional Petrol pumps.

Energy efficient Electric motors convert 75% of the chemical energy from the batteries to power the wheels internal combustion engines (ICEs) only convert 20% of the energy stored in gasoline.

Safety EVs must meet the same safety standards as conventional vehicles. In some instances, research shows that EVs can be safer than gasoline-powered vehicles. EVs usually have lower centers of gravity, making them less likely to roll over in an accident. The danger of fire in a collision is also substantially reduced because EVs do not have a gas tank or reservoir of engine lubricating oil. As with conventional vehicles, however, EV batteries

25

contain toxic elements that raise battery production, transport, use, and disposal safety issues.

Maintenance EVs do not require tune-ups or oil changes associated with conventional vehicles. In addition, EVs do not have timing belts, water pumps, radiators, fuel injectors, or tailpipes to replace. Battery recharging can be a frequent and lengthy process, however, taking 4 to 14 hours depending on the battery type and the voltage level used in recharging. High-voltage, fast-charging units (which take approximately 10 to 20 minutes to charge) are under development. Currently, they are being designed for limited use by some fleet operators and public charging locations.

Hybrid Vehicles Both technologies come together in hybrid electric vehicles, also known as HEVs or hybrids. Present-day hybrids are equipped with ICEs and electric motors. A hybrid's ICE engine, as in any ICE-powered car, produces power through continuous, controlled explosions that push down pistons connected to a rotating crankshaft. That rotating force (torque) is ultimately transmitted to the vehicle's wheels.

26

A hybrid's electric motor is energized by a battery, which produces power through a chemical reaction. The battery is continuously recharged by a generator that like the alternator of a conventional car is driven by the ICE. Hybrids can have a parallel design, a series design, or a combination of both: In a parallel design, the energy conversion unit and electric propulsion system are connected directly to the vehicle's wheels. The primary engine is used for highway driving; the electric motor provides added power during hill climbs, acceleration, and other periods of high demand. In a series design, the primary engine is connected to a generator that produces electricity. The electricity charges the batteries, which drive an electric motor that powers the wheels. HEVs can also be built to use the series configuration at low speeds and the parallel configuration for highway driving and acceleration. In conventional vehicles, energy from deceleration is wasted as it dissipates. In some hybrid vehicles, regenerative braking systems capture that energy, store it, and convert it to electricity to help propel the vehicle ultimately increasing overall efficiency. Some hybrids also use ultra capacitors to extend the life of a hybrid vehicle's on-board battery system because they are better suited to capturing high power from regenerative braking and releasing it for initial acceleration. Learn more about HEV technologies. Hybrid passenger cars arrived in the United States in model year 2000, following their introduction in Japan a few years earlier. First came the twoseat Honda Insight, followed by the Toyota Prius in model year 2001. Honda then introduced a hybrid version of its Civic sedan, and Toyota offered a second-generation Prius. Ford plans to introduce its first hybrid, a version of the Escape sport utility vehicle, in model year 2005. Several other major automakers now either offer HEVs or plan to do so in the near future.

27

Hybrid systems have also proved effective in buses and heavy trucks. For example, Oshkosh Truck Corporation has demonstrated a diesel-electric system that may significantly improve the fuel economy and driving range of military vehicles. As a bonus, hybrids can be devised to generate alternating current electricity for other applications such as plug-in power tools. General Motors, through its Allison Transmission Division, produces a dieselelectric hybrid drive train for transit buses.

Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Fuel for our gas- or diesel-powered vehicles costs much more per mile than the power needed for an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles are also clean, quiet, largely independent of imported petroleum, and can be powered using wind generation or another source of renewable electricity. A roadblock to success for electric vehicles has been their limited range. With hybrid-electric technology, however, that roadblock can now readily be overcome. Add extra batteries to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and a way to "plug them in" and you can drive most of a typical day's mileage on clean, less expensive electricity, but still have an easily refillable fuel tank for longer trips. Some HEVs have already been converted to plug-ins and Mercedes-Benz is now making limited numbers of a demonstration plug-in Sprinter van. Probably the biggest challenge plug-in hybrids have is the cost and weight of batteries. NREL is extensively researching thermal management, modeling, and systems solutions for energy storage technology. Even at today's battery costs, however, plug-ins may be able to repay their costs within a few years. NREL scientists and engineers also research improved power electronics critical to hybrid efficiency and conduct sophisticated modeling and analysis

28

essential to showing the economic viability of plug-ins and identifying key areas for improvement. NREL researchers are also seeking to carry the plug-in hybrid concept a couple steps farther by making the plug-in reversible. Called a "vehicle-togrid" or "V2G", such a two-way plug allows the home and vehicle owner and local utility to take advantage of the extra electrical storage capacity in the vehicle batteries to meet peak demand, provide grid support services or respond to power outages. In addition, utilities pay premium rates for peak and backup power and might pay commuters to plug their vehicles in while at work to ensure their employer has high quality power throughout the day. NREL transportation analysts are quantifying the potential value of such systems.

Indian EV s The Indian car market is growing rapidly. It has just overtaken Japan and emerged as the largest small car market in the world. It is slowly becoming a hub for luxury cars as well. Moreover, in near future the Indian car market will witness a slew of electric and hybrid car launches. Most of these green cars will be displayed at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo.

COMPARISON OF FOSSIL FUEL WITH ELECTRICITY

Fuel Type Petrol Electricity

Average (km) 20 Km / lt 170 W / km

Cost Rs./km 3.25 Rs./km 0.85 Rs./km

Cost of fuel Rs.65 Rs. 85 (for 100km)

29

30

CONCLUSION
When you refuse to reuse, It s our earth you abuse

31

32

33

34