Battery Support for Solar Vehicle Development

Since 1984 Eagle-Picher Ind., Inc. has provided hardware and technical support to the budding solar vehicle industry. The batteries are used in the solar vehicles to provide storage of the electrical energy from the solar cells for use during brief periods when the power requirements exceed the capability of the solar cells, such as hill climbing, passing, or low sun conditions. Though the early development of these vehicles has focused on races which place emphasis on both speed and endurance, the ultimate goal is a commercial vehicle which will reduce the consumption of fossil fuels for transportation. Eagle-Picher Industries silver-oxide zinc system has proven ideal for use in this development phase because of their high energy density and reliability. Eagle-Picher Industries developed their secondary silver-oxide zinc systems over the past four decades to provide power for America's growing Aerospace industry where a high priority has always been placed on light weight and reliable performance.

The batteries have helped the solar vehicle development progress from speeds of 10 mph and a few miles between failures to speeds in excess of 60 mph and distances of over 2,000 miles over public highways in harsh desert environments.

Batteries supplied by Eagle-Picher Industries have powered the winning entries in all of the major races and a majority of all batteries used for all races.