Priscilla: Queen of the World Solar Challenge

A team of university students has unveiled its entry into this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Championship with the help of some colourful characters.

Priscilla is the result of a collaborative effort by five Aussie universities: RMIT University, UTS, University of South Australia, Curtin University and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) – collectively known as The Australian Technology Network (ATN) Solar Car Team.

The ‘Aussie Outback Queen’ was unveiled at a special event in Melbourne yesterday, alongside personalities Sara Tonin and Sasha Starr, in keeping with the theme.

Priscilla was custom designed and built by the team to be fast when she needs to be, but always strategic in her energy consumption, said team manager Anna Lidfors Lindqvist.

“Priscilla has a top speed of 130km/h, but ours is a race of strategy over speed. We need to meet very tight time windows at control stops. We can drive 1200km without external charging, even in poor weather,” she said.

“Priscilla is smart too. With a traditional electricity supply system, generators adjust their output to match the demand from everyday appliances.”

The team’s efforts have been commended by Bridgestone World Solar Challenge event director Chris Selwood.

“When I first heard about five universities designing and building a solar car in five separate states, I wasn’t sure how they’d get it done. The scale and logistics of the BWSC is not to be underestimated,” he said.

“To be successful in the Cruiser Class, you need a lot more than speed, you need energy efficiency, practical ‘real car’ features and the added subjective judging component of market desirability; ATN has certainly embraced the concept!”

The 3000km zero-emissions race is set to begin in Darwin on Sunday, October 13.