Open AccessFirst assessment on suspension parameter optimization for a solar – powered vehicle
Author(s) -
Silvio Sorrentino,
Alessandro De Felice,
Pasquale Grosso,
Giangiacomo Minak
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.179
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/659/1/012080
Subject(s) - automotive engineering , axle , payload (computing) , suspension (topology) , roof , range (aeronautics) , monocrystalline silicon , photovoltaic system , aerospace engineering , engineering , environmental science , mechanical engineering , structural engineering , silicon , materials science , electrical engineering , computer science , computer network , mathematics , homotopy , network packet , pure mathematics , metallurgy
Optimization of suspension parameters with respect to comfort and road holding is a challenging issue for solar–powered cars, due to in–wheel electric engines on very light vehicles, carrying payloads which can exceed their total mass. The solar–powered car considered in this study was designed and manufactured for racing by the University of Bologna; with a mass of 300 kg and a payload of 320 kg due to four occupants, using 5 m 2 of monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic panel on the roof, 64 kg of lithium–ion batteries and two electric engines coupled directly to the rear wheels, it can achieve either a range of 600 km at cruising speed, or velocity peaks of 120 km/h. In this contribution, equivalent vertical stiffness and equivalent damping coefficients are optimized for both axles, achieving results that in terms of comfort and road holding are comparable to those of standard passenger cars.