Patent ID: 8886379

Claim:
A solar vehicle with extended driving range, wherein; the solar vehicle has a steering system, a braking system, seats, lights, an instrumentation system, one or more energy storage systems, an electrical prime mover for propulsion, at least three wheels and an occupant and cargo compartment wherein the cargo area is located to the rear of the occupant area; at least one rear solar array; comprising at least one or more first sets of solar panels which cover at least eighty percent of the cargo area roof and whose solar cells are always facing upwards; this rear solar array will also include one or more second sets of solar panels and one or more third sets of solar panels; when not deployed the one or more second sets of solar panels will hang down from one side of the vehicle and the one or more third sets of solar panels will hang down from the other side of the vehicle; when not deployed the solar cells of both the second and third set of solar panels will face outwards and be at least partly covered by some physical object which does not have solar cells facing outwards; the three or more sets of solar panels comprising the one rear solar array are linked together by a structure which is attached within two feet of its front edge to the roof of the vehicle; when deployed, the second and third set of solar panels will have their solar cells facing upwards and they will be located within five degrees of being on the same plane as the first set of solar panels.