Photovoltaic energy and usage in vehicles

Even it is not so yet, solar energy is expected to be the on the top of the renewable energy resources in the close future after obtaining the desired performance with the devoloping technology. Even with the recent technology, there are some ares in that the use of solar technology is necessary, which is also explained in this study, after the expression of the solar energy and obtaining photovoltaic energy with this solar energy. In this connection, firstly solar energy and producing fotovoltaic energy from it was studied. Considering a basic system and it?s components, a system which can be adapted to various applications by some modifications was explained. The application of the fotovoltaic energy on vehicles was informed, the approach to the subsytems of such a vehicle is advised. The probable problems which can occur during manufacturing a solar car and solutions of those are also given, using the experience obtained during the solar car races which was organised by TUBITAK in August 2005. In consequence to the importance of the limited energy available for a solar car, the calculation of the performance datas of a solar cell under the practical conditions was done. As practical conditions, the effect of the illimunation level and temperature on the solar cell is investigated. The multi variable transcendental equations faced during these calculations were solved with ?Mathematica 5.1?. The necessary program codes for the solution of those equations are given along the thesis text. In the conclusion part, the datas found were compared with the datas which were obtianed disgarding the operational conditions and the benefits of these calculations were discussed. Keywords : photovoltaic ( PV ) enerji, solar cell, solar cell efficiency, heat effect, illimunation effect, practical effiecieny, operational efficiency.