1. What is Miles per Watt?

Miles per Watt (Miles/W) is a measure of energy efficiency for solar-powered vehicles, indicating how many miles a vehicle can travel using one watt of power. It helps compare the efficiency of different solar-powered systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• Miles Traveled — Distance covered by the solar-powered vehicle
• Energy Consumed — Total electrical energy used during the travel (in watts)

Explanation: This ratio shows how efficiently the vehicle converts electrical energy into distance traveled.

3. Importance of Miles per Watt Calculation

Details: Calculating miles per watt helps in designing more efficient solar-powered vehicles, comparing different models, and estimating range based on available solar power.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the distance traveled in miles and the total energy consumed in watts. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good miles per watt value?
A: Higher values are better. Typical solar cars achieve 0.05-0.2 miles per watt, while highly efficient designs might reach 0.3 miles per watt or more.

Q2: How does this relate to solar panel efficiency?
A: The miles per watt metric includes the entire system efficiency - solar panels, energy storage, motor efficiency, and vehicle aerodynamics.

Q3: Can I use kilometers instead of miles?
A: Yes, but you'll need to convert to miles first (1 km = 0.621371 miles) or modify the formula to km per watt.

Q4: Does this account for battery efficiency?
A: The calculation uses total energy consumed, which already includes any battery losses during charging/discharging.

Q5: How can I improve my miles per watt?
A: Reduce weight, improve aerodynamics, use more efficient motors, and optimize your solar panel array and power management system.