The technology
How it works
The system is straightforward: solar panels power the motor directly, and a supercapacitor fills in the gaps.
Direct solar propulsion
Most solar vehicles use the sun to charge a battery, which then powers the motor. Carro Del Sol skips the battery entirely. The panels feed the motor directly.
This simplifies the system considerably — fewer components, less weight, and a more direct relationship between the sun and the vehicle's movement.
Photo coming soon
Step by step
Solar panels capture sunlight
Photovoltaic cells on the vehicle's surface generate electricity whenever sunlight hits them. On a clear day, this is enough to maintain a steady speed on flat ground.
The supercapacitor handles interruptions
A small supercapacitor stores a short burst of energy — enough to keep the vehicle moving through a patch of shade. It recharges quickly once sunlight returns.
The motor runs on what's available
Power from the panels and supercapacitor flows to an electric motor. The system is lightweight and mechanically simple.
No energy management required
There is no battery level to watch. The vehicle runs while the sun is up and doesn't when it isn't. That's the intended behavior.
Why a supercapacitor instead of a battery?
A battery stores a large amount of energy but takes time to charge and degrades over many cycles. A supercapacitor stores much less energy but charges and discharges almost instantly, and lasts much longer.
For this application, the supercapacitor only needs to cover a few seconds of shade — a passing cloud, a row of trees. It doesn't need to store hours of energy. That's a job it handles well.
Want more detail?
The Research page covers the prototype, what's been tested, and what's been learned.