SOLAR POWERED RACING CARS & TEAMS

  THE FUTURE FOR ZERO CARBON MOTORING IS SOLAR POWERED ELECTRIC CARS

 

 

 

The BO solar powered electric car

 

 

Solar powered car racing events continue to gain in popularity the world over as a means to draw attention to global warming and climate change as awareness events.

 

Electric cars hold the potential to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and stop the extraction and burning fossil fuels for ordinary transport purposes. We need to get ourselves on track to a sustainable future where a truly circular economy is in place.

 

For this we need a global transport system that can sustain itself on what we can harvest from the sun or sea, or grow on the land, without harming our environment in the process. That our needs are directly proportional to our population also needs careful consideration where humans are not subject to the normal laws of nature, where no food = famine and so a natural population cull, but where we supply areas that are unable to grow crops to support life, with aid relief.

 

 

The SunSwift, and Australian solar powered car from the University of New South Wales

 

AUSTRALIAN SOLAR QUOTES - A solar car designed to overcome “range anxiety” has set a land speed record in Australia. The Sunswift eVe, designed and built by University of New South Wales students, has beaten the previous world record for the fastest long-range electric vehicle.

There are many solar cars out there capable of a long range, and many more other solar cars capable of even higher speeds,” says Rob Ireland, the Sunswift design team leader. It appears that their solar car has overcome performance and practicality issues which have continuously plagued previous solar car designs. The design and production team of Sunswift eVe tested the solar car at the Australian Automotive Research Centre in Victoria. Sunswift eVe reached an average of 100 km per hour over the 500 kilometre track breaking the previous record of 73 km per hour set in 1988. The Federation International de l’Automobile still has to ratify the record, but based on its performance, Sunswift eVe is undoubtedly the fastest electric car ever to make a significant margin in a 500 km distance course.

The eVe will be attractive to today’s motorists because of its practicality. It has two seats and four wheels, just like any conventional car used by millions in the world today. It is easy to mistake it for a regular car and not a cost-efficient solar car. This solar car has a top speed of 140 km per hour (87 mph). A single charge of its lithium-ion batteries connected to C60 Sunpower silicon cells enables it to cover 800 kilometres.

Sunswift eVe’s motor is supplied by the Australian National Science Agency CSIRO, and operates at 97% efficiency. That means this solar car consumes energy only as much as a kitchen toaster. Sam Paterson, the project director said that the Sunswift eVe was designed to have more conventional car features than their previous solar cars. Although it was built to compete in the World Solar Challenge, they hope it will one day be accepted as a practical everyday car.

This project was given a funding of $20,000 so that it can successfully compete in the World Solar Challenge. They are still seeking support from the public. Being able to break the land speed record, the project team hopes that this financial support will now be forthcoming. With its design departing from the “spaceship” character of previous solar cars, the eVe will be more attractive to practically minded motorists who are looking for conventional looking solar cars. The look of the eVe is not really different from most modern cars on the road today.

To attract the public to support the project, the development team is offering certain “rewards” for those who would like to pledge certain amounts of dollars. The “rewards” range at different values, including the opportunity to test drive the eVe around the race track. The future looks great for Sunswift eVe because of its new land speed record. Many people are now beginning to realize that solar powered cars can be used as a practical mode of transportation.

 

 

We also build cities in deserts, where there is no water and no food, creating artificial strains on our eco system, contrary to the United Nations sustainability goals. It is utter madness. Such developers are climate criminals, even if they are empire building out of ignorance. Such development threaten human survival and raise the issue of food security. Climate change is reducing further the land that is available for agriculture, also creating the acid oceans that are causing havoc to marine life. For all these reasons we need solar and electric cars.

 

They say racing improves the breed and this is no exception.  What is clear from the make up of the teams below, is that most of the development of solar racers is undertaken by university teams. This is a young engineers sport and these are the cars of the future, for the most part being developed without any major assistance from the big car makers, but with sponsorship from educational institutions and business. Big thanks to them!

 

 

SOLAR CAR TEAMS

 

ORGANISATION A-Z

CAR'S NAME

TEAM NAME

Aristotle Uni of Thessaloniki, Helios

Helios

Faculty of Engineering

Arizona Solar Racing Team - USA

Arizona Solar Racing Team

Ashiya University - Japan

Sky Ace TIGA

Solar Car Project

Auburn University

Sol of Auburn

Sol of Auburn

Aurora Team, Australia

Aurora

Aurora Vehicle Association

Bochum Solar Car Team

Das SolarCar der Fachhochschule

California Poly S University

SLO Burn  Sidewinder

San Luis Obispo

Cambridge University

Eco Racing Team

Clarkson Uni Solar Car Team, USA

The Solar Knights

Delft University - Holland

NUNA I & II 2003

Dell Winston School

The Hunter

Solar Car Challenge

Desert Rose, Northern Territory Uni

FUJI DESERT ROSE

Drexel SunDragon Home Page

Durham University

Solar Car Racing Team

École de technologie supérieure Quebec

Eclipse V (5)

Éclipse Vehicular Solaire 

École Polytechnique de Montréal

Esteban

Eko-Auto  Poland

Eko-Auto

Electron Analytic Corporation

Dark Horse

EAC Skunkworks

George Washington University

George Washington Uni Solar Car

Georgia Institute of Technology

Solar Jackets

Solar Jackets

GWAWR Cymru solar car

Solar Car Wales.co.uk

Heliodet, Germany

Heliodet

Heliodet, Solar Car Team

Helios - Lille, France

Hélios IV

Hautes Etudes d'Ingénieur

Heliox Solar Car Team

Héliox

Dominic de Vries

Honda Car Company

Honda

Illinois State University

Surya, Ratha, Mercury

Illinois State University Team

Iowa State University

Fusion

Team PrISUm

Jonasun  Japan

Orbit

Solar Car Paviion

Kansas State University

Paragon

Solar Car Racing Team

K-Con

Solar Wing

Los Altos Academy of Engineering

Los Altos Solar Car Team

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tesseract

MIT

McGill University Monteal, Canada

iSun

Team iSun

McMaster University

Phoenix

McMaster Uni Solar Car Project

Messiah College Grantham, Penns

Genesis II

Genesis II Solar Racing Team

Michigan State University

 

Solar Racing Team

Michigan Technological University

Solar Car Team

Minnesota S Uni-Mankato/Winona S Uni

Minnesota Solar Car Team

North Dakota State University

The Double Deuce

Sunsetters - Solar Race Team

Northwestern University

N'Uvation

Northwestern University

Nuon Solar Team, Netherlands

Nuon 3

Het Nuon Solar Team

Osaka Sangyo University, Japan

OSU model S

Solar Car Team

Prairie View A&M University

Solaris

Sun Panthers

Principia College

RA 6

Principia College Solar Car Team

Purdue University

SPOT 2

Purdue University Solar Racing

Queen's University Canada

Radiance  Gemini

Queen's Solar Vehicle Team

Red River College 

Red River Raycer

Red River College Solar Car Team

Rice University

Rice University

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Rose-Hulman Solar Car Team

Southern Illinois Uni Edwardsville

Cougar Cruiser

Southern Illinois University

South Bank University, UK

Mad Dog

South Bank Mad Dog Team

South Dakota School Mines & Tech

Solar Motion

South Dakota Solar Motion Team

Southern Taiwan University Tech

Southern Taiwan Solar Team

Stanford University

Solstice

Stanford Solar Car Project

Tamagawa University - Japan

Tamagawa Solar Challenge Project

Team Futura, Italy

FUTURA 2

Team Futura

Team Solaris

 Solaris 1 & 2

Dokuz Eylül & Ege University

Team SunLake - Japan

Phaethon model

Team SunLake TOYOBO

Texas A&M University

Columbia Sunraycer

Texas A&M Motorsports Team

The Power of One  - Toronto

Xof1

The Xof1 solar car team

Tufts University

ANNE E. B. II

Nerd Girls

University of Alberta

University of Alberta Team

University of Arizona

Drifter

Solar Racing Team

University of Calgary

 

UC Calgary Solar Car Team

University of California-Berkeley

CalSol 

California Calsol Team

University of Delhi

Project Solaris 

University of Kansas

Solution, CATalyst

KSU Solar Car Racing Team

University of Kentucky

Gato del Sol II

Solar Car Team

University of Massachusetts 

Spirit of Mass 413

Lowell Solar Racing Team

University of Michigan

Momentum

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

Borealis III

U of M Solar Vehicle Project

University of Missouri Columbia

Suntiger VI

The Mizzou Solar Car Project

University of Missouri Rolla

Solar Miner V

Solar Minor Car Team 

University of North Dakota

Subzero 3

Team SubZero

University of Ontario Institute of Tech

UOI Solar Vehicle Team

Uni of New South Wales SCR Team

UNSW Sunswift III

New South Wales SCR Team

University of Patras, Hermes

Solar Car Team

University of Pennsylvania

Keystone

Penn Solar Racing

University of Queensland

Sunshark

Queensland Solar Team

University of South Australia

Ned  KELLY

SA Solar Car Consortium

University of Tehran

Persian Gazelle

Persia-Gazelle.com

University of Texas at Austin

Solar Steer

Solar Vehicles Team

University of Texas at El Paso

 

Solraycers

University of Toronto

Blue Sky

Blue Sky Solar Racing

University of Toulouse

Heliotrope

Heliotrope Solar Car Team

University of Utah 

 

Vehicle Design Team Utah

University of Virginia

 

UVa Solar Car Team

University of Waterloo

Midnight Sun VIII

Midnight Sun Solar Race Team

University of Western Ontario

Sunstang

Sunstang USP Solar Car Team

USP Solar Car Team

USP Solar Car Team

Western Michigan University

Sunseeker 05

W Michigan Solar Car Team

Yale University

The John Lee

Team Lux

 

 

 

 

About solar powered cars

 

 

 

Poverty UN sustainability goals 1Zero hunger and food security UN SDG2Health and well being UN SDG3Education UN sustainable development goal 4Gender equaltiy for men and women UN SDG 5Sanitation and clean water for all SDG 6

Clean affordable energy for all UN sustainability goal 7Jobs and sustainable economic growth SDG 8Innovation in industry and sustainable infrastructure SDG 9Reduced inequalities for all sustainable development goal 10Cities and communities that are sustainable goal 11Consumption and production that is sustainable SDG 12

Action against climate change sustainable development goal 13Ocean and marine conservation UN sustainable development goals 14Biodiversity conserving life on land SDG 15Justice and institutional integrity for peace SDG 16Partnerships between governments and corporations SDG 17United Nations sustainable  development goals for 2030

 

 

Solar cars are like electric cars with electric motors and battery packs powered entirely or in large part by solar energy – in most cases, photovoltaic (PV) cells, found in solar panels, convert the energy provided from the sun into usable electric energy. Solar cells will typically convert a good percentage of the sunlight hitting them into electricity to power your vehicle. If your vehicle is running while this is taking place, the electricity channeled through your electric motor will instantly power your vehicle. If your vehicle is powered off, the electricity is used to charge your battery pack for later use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAILY EXPRESS AUGUST 2018 - A NEW solar-powered electric car is slated to launch in 2019 and could be a decent vehicle to avoid range anxiety and save money on refuelling.

A start-up company is hoping to bring a solar-powered electric car to market by as early as 2019. Sono Motors is currently entering the final development phase of the solar chaging system for its first car. The Munich-based start firm is developing the car that lets you recharge your vehicle as you drive.

Called the Sion, it has solar cells integrated into the bodywork which will allow it to gain power to convert into range while driving. Sion will have 330 solar cells attached to the vehicle's roof, bonnet and sides and its battery system will offer a range of around 250 km (155 miles) before it needs recharging. It can be charged via solar power, from conventional power outlets or other electric cars.

The company was founded in 2016 and the carmaker has over 6,000 reservations for the car which will be featured in two different forms - Urban and Extender.

Urban will achieve range of up to 120km (75 miles) of range on a single charge and cost €12,000 while the Extender will cost around €16,000 (£14,200) and achieve up to 250km (155 miles) of range. According to the carmaker it will be able to regenerate up to 30km of range a day from the panels.

How much range can be regenerated from the solar panels or how it utilises the energy gathered from the panels across the bodywork has not yet been confirmed.

The exterior is mainly comprised of rustproof polycarbonate which is scratch resistant and has solar panels covering 7.5 square metres of the car’s body. One issue is that the car looks slightly unusual and realistically only works in black for the panels to be effective and be hidden.

Inside the car, one unusual feature is the addition of moss which acts as an air purifier to filter out particulates and dust using electromagnetic charge. The car will also have bidirectional charging which means its charge and energy can be utilised for a number of different things such as an external light or cooker if you were camping for example.

"We have a seat heater, there is air conditioning, there is a large infotainment system where I can also connect my phone interactively, which means I really have a full vehicle which is very simple, has no frills," Laurin Hahn, co-founder and chief executive of the startup told Reuters. Production will start in the second half of 2019 at one of its German plants and Sono Motors will aim to start selling the vehicle next year. By Luke Smith

 

 

 

 

 

INHABIT JUNE 27 2017 - A team of students at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) just unveiled an electric car that seats five and is completely powered by the sun. Called Stella Vie, the vehicle stands apart because it’s more efficient than all solar cars before it. Even with fewer solar panels on its roof, the car is capable of a range of about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) on a warm summer day.

According to the students, Stella Vie is “the car of the future.” Charged by the sun, the solar-powered vehicle can reach speeds up to 130 km/h (80 mph) and it also contains new, smart technology such as a parking navigation system that takes into account the position of the sun when parking (so it can keep charging). Like a Tesla, Stella Vie also uses the latest technology to warn drivers of upcoming traffic events. This allows for safer and more efficient driving.

According to TU/e, Stella Vie was designed to find the most efficient route and show how much energy can be saved compared to a standard, fossil fuel-powered car. Any surplus energy that is generated by the vehicle can be supplied back to a house or the electric grid. Additionally, the smart charging and discharging system keeps track of energy prices and daily use to find the best time to recharge and discharge.

All in all, 23 students worked together to develop the car which is competing to win TU/e’s third world title at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, which will take place this October in Australia. The competition requires the solar-powered cars to run 3,000 kilometers through the Australian outback. Stella Vie will compete in the Cruiser Class (for practical cars), where technical innovation, battery consumption and the number of occupants that can be transported are taken into account by judges.

 

 

What are the benefits? First and foremost, zero emissions. Solar vehicles are powered with electric motors, meaning they do not burn any fuel. You’ll also be conserving resources with a solar vehicle. Because solar vehicles do not use fuel or require regular oil changes, they are not dependent upon petroleum products. Solar vehicles don’t require gas or diesel so you will not have to worry to the rising prices of these fuels. Lastly, and probably the most important, is preserving the planet healthy and clean for the future generations.

Another good alternative to solar cars is getting an electric car that is powered by electricity that was created from solar panels. 

 

 

Greta Thunberg at the United Nations conference on climate change December 2018, Katowice Poland

 

CNN DECEMBER 17 2018 - Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old Swedish environmental activist, all but shamed the 190 countries represented at the United Nations COP24 conference in Poland last week.

The young activist accused negotiators — gathered in Katowice to establish rules for the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change — of abandoning future generations. "You say you love your children above all else and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes," Thunberg said during an address to attendees on Wednesday. Here is the full text of her speech at COP24 in Poland.

 

 

HISTORY

 

Solar cars were first built by universities and auto manufacturers. These early constructors soon realised that the sun energy collector areas were too large for consumer cars, however that is slowly changing.  Development continues on solar cell design and car power supply requirements such as heaters or air-conditioning fans, which we take for granted on conventional IC cars.

 

One way of offsetting the limited space on a conventional car, is to incorporate solar panels at your homes, in car parks at work and on the roofs of factories and schools.

 

 

FIRST SOLAR CAR RACES

 

Hans Tholstrup and Larry Perkins were the first solar car racers who completed a Solar Trek from Perth to Sydney, Australia in 1983. 

 

Next in 1986, Denis Bartel drove the first solar powered vehicle named 'The Spirit of Adelaide", to cross Australia from North to South (Darwin to Adelaide).  

 

 

Denis Bartel and 'The Spirit of Adelaide' - Alice Springs 1986

 

Denis Bartel and 'The Spirit of Adelaide' - Alice Springs 1986

 

 

In part, this was a tribute to a famous explorer; John McDouall Stuart, who on horseback opened up the centre of Australia in 1861,  to the 100th anniversary of the motor car, and to celebrate South Australia’s 150th Jubilee Year

 

Then in the 1987 race, the GM Sunraycer completed the same North-South 3010 km trip with an average speed of 67 kmh, setting the scene for an extensive research and development program among the teams.

 

Sunlight is an excellent energy source, providing 1,000 watts per square meter on bright days.  Hence, the future of using solar power is very exciting, except that to date conversion efficiencies are around the 18% mark for commercially priced cells. Solar-powered cars all get their fuel from the same place - the Sun. The cars use hundreds of photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. Each cell produces about half a volt of electricity.

 

When the Solar Race teams design their electrical systems they have to allow for variations in sunlight. The Sun's energy powers the car's motor and charges a battery for use when the Sun is hidden by a cloud. If a car is designed to put all of its energy toward driving and keeps nothing in reserve, it will come to a halt in cloudy weather.  If too much energy is diverted to the battery, the engine runs too slowly to keep up in the race.  The ratio of energy stored and energy used directly, is therefore quite an important compromise.

 

While engineers and still have many problems to tackle before solar power becomes an efficient and economical way to fuel vehicles, it is hoped that the constant development from racing events, will hasten a solution.  The best bit about  using solar power for transportation is that it's pollution free and inexhaustible.

 

 

The Solar Wing, Japanese electric racing car

 

 

WHAT IS A SOLAR CAR

 

A solar car is an electric vehicle powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the car. Solar cars are not currently a practical form of transportation as they can only operate during the day and can only carry one or two passengers. However, they are raced in competitions such as the World Solar Challenge and the American Solar Challenge. These events are often sponsored by Government agencies such as the United States Department of Energy keen to promote the development of alternative energy technology such as solar cells. Such challenges are often entered by universities to develop their students engineering and technological skills as well as motor vehicle manufacturers such as GM and Honda.

 

Driver's cockpit

 

Driver's cockpits are normally single-seat with a few cars containing room for a second passenger. They are hot from the solar panel and very cramped with few of the comforts of a normal automobile. They contain some of the features available to drivers of traditional vehicles such as brakes, accelerator, signals, rear view mirrors, ventilation and often cruise control. They also have a two way radio for communication with their support crews.

 

Solar cars are fitted with gauges seen in conventional motor cars and the driver's main priority is to keep an eye on these gauges to spot possible problems. Drivers also have a safety harness and optionally a helmet similar to racing car drivers.

 

 

Electrical system

 

The electrical system is the most important part of the car's systems as it controls all of the power that comes into and leaves the system. The battery pack plays the same role in a solar car that a petrol tank plays in a normal car in storing power for future use. Solar cars use a range of batteries including lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH), Nickel-Cadmium batteries (NiCd), Lithium ion batteries and Lithium polymer batteries. Lead-acid batteries are less expensive and easier to work with but have less power to weight ratio. Typically, solar cars use voltages between 84 and 170 volts.

 

Power electronics monitor and regulate the car's electricity. Components of the power electronics include the peak power trackers, the motor controller and the data acquisition system.

 

The peak power trackers manage the power coming from the solar array to maximize the power and either deliver it to be stored in the battery or used in the motor. They also protect the batteries from overcharging. The motor controller manages the electricity flowing to the motor according to signals flowing from the accelerator.

 

Many solar cars have complex data acquisition systems that monitor the whole electrical system while even the most basic cars have systems that provide information on battery voltage and current to the driver. One such system utilizes Controller Area Network (CAN).

 

Drive train

 

The setup of the motor and transmission is unique in solar cars. The electric motor normally drives only one wheel at the back of the car due to the low amount of power it generates. Solar car motors are normally rated at between 2 and 5 hp (1 and 3 kW) and the most common type of motor is a dual-winding DC brushless. The dual-winding motor is sometimes also used as a transmission because multi-geared transmissions are rarely used.

 

There are three basic types of transmissions used in solar cars:

  • a single reduction direct drive

  • a variable ratio drive belt

  • a hub motor

There are several varieties of each type. The most common is the direct drive transmission.

 

 

Honda solar powered racing car, Darwin to Adelaide World Solar Challenge

 

 

Mechanical systems

 

The mechanical systems are designed to keep friction and weight to a minimum while maintaining strength. Designers normally use titanium and composites to ensure a good strength-to-weight ratio.

 

Solar cars usually have three wheels, but some have four. Three wheelers usually have two front wheels and one rear wheel: the front wheels steer and the rear wheel follows. Four wheel vehicles are set up like normal cars or similarly to three wheeled vehicles with the two rear wheels close together.

 

Solar cars have a wide range of suspensions because of varying bodies and chassis. The most common front suspension is the double-A-arm suspension found in traditional cars. The rear suspension is often a trailer-arm suspension found in motor cycles.

 

Solar cars are required to meet rigorous standards for brakes. Disc brakes are the most commonly used due to their good braking ability and ability to adjust. Mechanical and hydraulic brakes are both widely used with the brakes designed to move freely by minimise brake drag.

 

Steering systems for solar cars also vary. The major design factors for steering systems are efficiency, reliability and precision alignment to minimise tire wear and power loss. The popularity of solar car racing has led to some tire manufacturers designing tires for solar vehicles. This has increased overall safety and performance.

 

 

 

 

 

First manned electrically powered flight

"The world is our oyster"

 

 

SOLAR ARRAY

 

The solar array consists of hundreds of photovoltaic solar cells converting sunlight into electricity. Cars can use a variety of solar cell technologies; most often polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, or gallium arsenide. The cells are wired together into strings while strings are often wired together to form a panel. Panels normally have voltages close to the nominal battery voltage. The main aim is to get as many cells in as small a space as possible. Designers encapsulate the cells to protect them from the weather and breakage.

 

Designing a solar array isn't as easy as just stringing bunch of cells together. A solar array acts like a lot of very small batteries all hooked together in series. The total voltage produced is the sum of all cell voltages. The problem is that if a single cell is in shadow it acts like a diode, blocking the flow of current for the entire string of cells. To correct against this, array designers use by-pass diodes in parallel with smaller segments of the string of cells, allowing current to flow around the non-functioning cell(s). Another consideration is that the battery itself can force current backwards through the array unless there are blocking diodes put at the end of each panel.

 

The power produced by the solar array depends on the weather conditions, the position of the sun and the capacity of the array. At noon on a bright day, a good array can produce over 2 kilowatts (2.6 hp).

 

BODIES & SHASSIS

 

Solar cars have very distinctive shapes as there are no established standards for design. Designers aim to minimise drag, maximise exposure to the sun, minimise weight and make vehicles as safe as possible.

 

In chassis design the aim is to maximise strength and safety while keeping the weight as low as possible. There are three main types of chassis:

 

  • space frame

  • semi-monocoque or carbon beam

  • monocoque

 

The space frame uses a welded or tubed structure to support the body which is a lightweight composite shell attached to the body separately and the loads. The semi-monocoque chassis uses composite beams and bulkheads to support the weight and is integrated into the belly with the top sections often being attached to the body. A monocoque structure uses the body of the car to support the weight.

 

Composite materials are widely used in solar cars. Carbon fibre, Kevlar and fibreglass are common composite structural materials while foam and honeycomb are commonly used filler materials. Epoxy resins are used to bond these materials together. Carbon fibre and kevlar structures can be as strong as steel but with a much lighter weight.

 

 

Auburn University solar powered racing car

 

 

RACE STRATEGY

 

Optimizing energy consumption is of prime importance in a solar car race. Therefore it is very important to be able to closely monitor the speed, energy consumption, energy intake from solar panel, among other things in real time. Some teams employ sophisticated telemetry that automatically keeps a follow vehicle continuously up to date on the state of the car.

 

The strategy employed depends upon the race rules and conditions. Most solar car races have set starting and stopping points where the objective is to reach the final point in the least amount of total time. Since aerodynamic forces rise exponentially with speed, the energy the car consumes also rises exponentially. This simple fact means that the optimum strategy is to travel at a single steady speed during all phases of the race. Given the varied conditions in all races and the limited (and constantly changing) supply of energy, most teams have race speed optimization programs that continuously update the team on how fast the vehicle should be traveling.

 

 

Solar pioneer and desert walker, Denis Bartell

 

 

SOLAR CAR RACES

 

The two most notable solar car races are the World Solar Challenge and the North American Solar Challenge. They are contested by a variety of university and corporate teams. Corporate teams contest the race to give its design teams experience in working with both alternative energy sources and advanced materials. GM and Honda are among the companies who have sponsored solar teams. University teams enter the races because it gives their students experience in designing high technology cars and working with environmental and advanced materials technology. These races are often sponsored by agencies such as the US Department of Energy keen to promote renewable energy sources.

 

The cars require intensive support teams similar in size to professional motor racing teams. This is especially the case with the World Solar Challenge where sections of the race run through very remote country.

 

There are other races, such as Suzuka and Phaethon. Suzuka is a yearly track race in Japan and Phaethon was part of the Cultural Olympiad in Greece right before the 2004 Olympics.

 

The 2005 North American Solar Challenge had two classses:

 

  • Open: where teams are allowed to use space-grade solar cells - won by the University of Michigan.

  • Stock: limits the type of cells that can be used on solar arrays - won by Stanford University.

 

 

 

The Turanor PlanetSolar catamaran boat

 

 

SOLAR BOATS

 

For all the reasons we need solar powered and electric cars, we also need solar powered boats and ships. The fastest solar powered circumnavigation in 2014 was by the Turanor PlanetSolar seen in the picture above. It took this craft a leisurely 584 to tour the world. The table of waypoints is an exercise for a larger boat called the Elizabeth Swan, that is a trimaran, rather than a catamaran configuration.

 

 

LEG

NAUTICAL MILES

TIME IN PORT

WAYPOINT

SUNSHINE DAYS

-

-

-

-

-

START

-

-

Monaco

0.00

1

784

2

Gibraltar

4.67

2

729

2

Tenerife, Canary Islands

4.34

3

3,154

2

Trinidad, Port of Spain

18.77

4

1,182

2

Panama City

7.04

5

970

2

Galapagos

5.77

6

3,640

2

Tahiti

21.67

7

1,423

2

Tonga, Nukualofa

8.47

8

410

2

Fiji, Suva

2.44

9

1,886

2

Port Moresby PNG

11.23

10

340

2

Thursday Island, Cape York

2.02

11

724

2

Darwin

4.31

12

1,572

2

Jakarta, Indonesia

9.36

13

1,881

2

Colombo, Sri Lanka

11.20

14

2,109

2

Aden, Yemen

12.55

15

698

2

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

4.15

16

670

2

Port Said, Egypt

3.99

17

1,111

2

Palermo, Sicily

6.61

18

170

2

Naples, Italy

1.01

19

393

FINISH

Monaco

2.34

-

-

-

-

-

-

23,846

36

RUNTIME DAYS @ 7kts

141.94

-

-

-

-

-

+ 10% service

= 156.13 Days

-

7 KNOTS AVE INC PORT & %

192.13

-& maintenance

-

-

AT 6 KNOTS AVE

224.16

 -

-

-

AT 5 KNOTS AVE

268.99

 

TRANSIT EXAMPLES - The above table illustrates one of the most likely ocean awareness expedition routes showing the time elapsed in days for 7 knots average cruising speed, including times for 5 and 6 knot averages - allowing for 10% downtime and 36 days in ports. Hence, although the objective is to reduce the current solar circumnavigation record from 584 days, the event in not an outright non-stop yacht competition in the offshore racing sense. It remains to be seen how accurate such a prediction might be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A solar powered Cycle

 

 

SOME USEFUL SITES

 

 

http://solarlifestyle.net/solar-car/

https://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-most-efficient-5-seater-car-is-powered-entirely-by-the-sun/

The UK SOLAR ENERGY Society

SunDay 1998

Sun@Work on the Web

Photovoltaics Special Research Centre

International Solar Energy Society

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Clean Cars and Sustainable Energy Vehicles

Solar Century - Photovoltaic Installations in the UK

Phebus - Photovoltaic Installations in France

Build A Solar Car

South Bank University Research Centres

Don's Autopages http://www.donsautopages.co.nz/  A comprehensive record breaking directory.

European Space Agency

 

 

 

SMARTCHARGE - Electric land speed record car 400mph

 

 

SMARTCHARGER - Potentially the world's fastest electric car: 400mph using energy from nature. Featuring built in battery swapping system, charged using renewable solar energy.  A project in waiting in PR terms.

 

 

 

THINKING OF BUILDING YOUR OWN SOLAR CAR?  CHECK OUT THE PAGES BELOW AS THEY COME ONLINE........

 

 

1. Chassis - and seating

2. Mechanics - suspension, steering, brakes

3. Motor and drive train

4. Motor controller

5. Solar Array - usually part of body

6. Batteries or fuel cells

7. Electrical System - and instruments

8. Driver Controls - switches, lighting, etc

9. Bodywork - Screen, etc

 

 

SOLAR CAR PART FINDER 

 

 

Sunseeker solar car Michigan University

 

 

SOLAR CAR RACING EVENT A - Z

 

 

CONTACTS

 

 

World Solar Challenge Trophy

 

World Solar Challenge Trophy

 

 

Solar Cars, American Solar Challenge         Solar Cars USA department of the environment seal         Solar Cars government of South Australia seal         Solar Cars world challenge sun logo

 

 

The content of this website is copyright © 1991 and 2019 Electrick Publications. All rights reserved. The bird name Blueplanet Ecostar are trademarks.  The BE2 and BE3 vehicle shape and configuration are registered designs ®.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.  Max Energy Limited is an educational charity.