A DESIGN ANALYSIS OF MOLDED PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL LAYOUT FOR INTEGRATION ONTO THE BODY OF A SOLAR-POWERED VEHICLE FOR THE BRIDGESTONE WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE 2027

Abstract

This study presents the design and development of a solar panel system installed on the hood of an electric vehicle, with the objective of evaluating its energy generation performance under real environmental conditions. The system comprises a total of 182 photovoltaic cells arranged into six series-connected modules. Modules 1 and 6 each consist of 27 cells, generating 13.5 V per module, while modules 2, 3, 4, and 5 each consist of 32 cells, generating 16 V per module. To assess system performance, measurement instruments including a solar irradiance meter, a relative humidity sensor, and a wattmeter were integrated into the experimental setup. Data were collected at 10 minute intervals between 09:00 and 15:00 throughout December 2025. The experimental results demonstrate that increased solar irradiance has a direct positive effect on the photovoltaic system, leading to higher power output and improved efficiency. In contrast, elevated relative humidity negatively impacts system performance, as atmospheric moisture can cause light scattering and refraction, thereby reducing the effective solar radiation incident on the panel surface and decreasing power generation.