20 000 PERL silicon cells for the ‘1996 World Solar Challenge’ solar car race

High-efficiency large-area PERL (passivated emitter, rear locally diffused) cells have been produced at the University of New South Wales in a sufficient quantity to supply three cars for the 1996 World Solar Challenge (WSC) solar car race. Almost 20 000 cells were fabricated, with designated illumination area efficiency ranging up to 24%. A flat-plate module made from 50 such cells fabricated early in the production process and having an average efficiency of just over 23% has demonstrated a record efficiency of 22.7%. The energy conversion efficiency of a typical cell fabricated late in the production process was subsequently measured as 23.7% at Sandia National Laboratories under standard test conditions (1 kW m−2, global AM1.5 spectrum at 25°C) based on the designated illumination area of 21.6 cm2. Honda's Dream and Aisin Seiki's Aisol III were two vehicles using these PERL cells, and were placed first and third, respectively, in the race. Honda also set a new record by reaching Adelaide in 4 days with an impressive average speed of 90 km h−1 over the 3010-km course.