Solar racers gain speed Down Under

The Panasonic World Solar Challenge race across Australia concluded its 20th competition over the weekend. Founded in 1987, the race aims to encourage private teams to work together and push developments in the field of solar-powered vehicles.

Three-time champion Nuon Solar Team claimed its fourth first-place to win the biennial race, with its entry Nuna4 (pictured). The 11-member team from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands included students in aviation and aerospace engineering, microelectronics, industrial design, biomedical engineering, and electrical engineering.

Nuna4 finished the gruelling course over the Australian outback in just four days averaging a speed of about 56mph, and was the only car to finish the race on Friday.

While the majority of teams competed in the main Challenge competition, there were two other classes to choose from: the Adventure class and the Greenfleet Technology class. The Adventure class is for teams participating for the sheer fun of it, while the Greenfleet Technology class is an opportunity for teams to demonstrate new automotive technologies aimed at achieving the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions. Electric, hybrid and low-carbon vehicles are all permitted.

The Waikato University's UltraCommuter, shown here, entered as a demonstration car in the Greenfleet class. Unlike teams in the main competition, who tend to opt for a flat rectangular array of solar panels, entrants to the Greenfleet class add a touch of style as the ultimate goal is to come up with more real-world concepts. And who knows, we could be seeing more cars like the UltraCommuter on the streets in the not to distant future.

Photo: Panasonic World Solar Challenge

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