Supports innovation by providing a platform for university students to build a one-of-a-kind family solar car
element14 has partnered with students of Manipal University to build an innovative solar car, which was 
launched today. The car was designed and built by SolarMobil, a team of 32 undergraduate engineering students who have come together with the aim of developing affordable green technology.
The Solar Electric Road Vehicle (SERVe) is designed with commercial use in mind. It is a four wheeled, two-seater car that can achieve a cruising speed of up to 120Km/h, and 30Km/h when powered by only solar panels. It uses 6m^2 monocrystalline silicon solar panels which can generate power of more than 1kW at an efficiency of 20%, which charges a battery pack consisting of lithium ion cells at a capacity of 13kWhr weighing 63 kg, giving the car a range of 250+ Kms.
element14 has been a partner of the project since its inception in 2011 by supporting all the requirements for components and for electrical/electronics design interfaces for the car. element14 saw this as a huge opportunity to create products which will help build sustainability in India. The project is part of element14’s wider commitment to providing electronic components and development kits that support design innovation, making tools and expertise available to design engineers and enthusiasts across the world.
Ravi Pagar, Regional Director, ASEAN, India, Korea & Japan, element14 said: “Requirement of modes of transportation which provides economies of scale and use of cleaner sources of energy without compromising on the comfort and safety are growing challenges that need to be addressed. It is our goal to help engineers recognize clean and green energy solutions to solve this. This project is a great example of budding engineers coming together not only to identify a problem, but also to solve it. It would be a fantastic achievement for the students to get this car in commercial use.”
The element14 Community provides a rich resource where more than 300,000 electronics engineers are on hand to share experiences, knowledge and advice on developing innovative applications and systems. Since its inception, element14 has attracted engineers from more than 130 countries. To learn more about the element14 Community and its award-winning services, visit www.element14.com.
