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Current Uses

Because solar cells produce electricity only when the sun is shining, SPV’s are not practical for daily use. Most SPV’s with built-on PV arrays are used only as research, development, and educational tools, and/or to participate in the various SPV races held around the world. These races, such as the World Solar Challenge (Australia), the Tour de Sol (Switzerland), the American Tour de Sol, and the American Solar Cup, serve as proving ground for new solar vehicle technologies, and help expose the public to the idea of solar energy as a power source. Students, engineers, and other inventors throughout the world compete in these races, often setting new records for distance, speed, or fuel efficiency.

PV cells are being used in some prototype electric vehicles by experimental labs to extend their driving range. These are often referred to as solar-assist electric vehicles. (In this case, the vehicle receives only a small amount of their electricity from solar energy, and uses conventional methods of recharging batteries.)