Solar challengers shape up

The University of NSW today revealed its contender for the 2013 World Solar Challenge, which will take in 3000km between Darwin and Adelaide over October 6-13.

First images of the latest contender from the UNSW’s Sunswift solar car racing team, dubbed ‘eVe’, reveal a sleek coupe with solar panels covering the entire roof, bonnet and all four quarter guards.

Today’s virtual reveal follows the launch of Sunswift’s crowd-funding campaign on May 14 and provided guests with the opportunity to be photographed with the team’s 2011 Guinness World Record solar car, ‘Ivy’.

“We are taking on something as quirky and important as creating an emissions free car,” said guest speaker Tony Bowen, Mayor of Randwick City Council, at the unveiling.

“This car encapsulates our great Australian spirit and gives us an opportunity to take on universities overseas.”

As part of its fund-raising campaign, Sunswift is offering the exclusive opportunity to test-drive eVe.

“The team is working very hard to see this car on the road come October, so funds are essential for our progress,” said head of Sunswift’s business team, Alexander To.

The reveal of the UNSW’s eVe follows the March announcement of a partnership between the University of Western Sydney and Lenovo to create another World Solar Challenge contender dubbed ‘Solace’.

Valued at more than $10,000, the deal will see Lenovo supply the UWS Solar Car Team with D20 and S20 ThinkStations for its inaugural World Solar Challenge assault.

“The ThinkStations Lenovo are supplying us with are very powerful workstations, certainly beyond the capability of what we have been using previously,” said UWS Solar Car Team leader Jay Manley.

“They will help us to drastically reduce our simulation time and greatly improve our productivity in 3D. The ThinkStations will be a great asset in the coming months as we finalise the build of our car and prepare for the race in October.”

Established in early 2011, the UWS Solar Car Team comprises four mechanical engineering students, eight electrical engineers, three industrial designers and an accountant.

Solace measures 4.5 metres long and 1.6 metres wide. Constructed from carbon-fibre and capable of speeds of up to 150km/h, it will be powered by an in-wheel electric motor developed by the CSIRO in collaboration with other institutions.

Once again, the biannual solar vehicle endurance event is expected to attract entries from industry and educational institutions worldwide, including universities, high schools and technical colleges.

General Motors’ ‘Sunraycer’ claimed honours in the inaugural World Solar Challenge event in 1987, while 2011 saw Japanese entries dominate, with Tokai University’s ‘Tokai Challenger’ claiming their second win following victory in the Challenge class in 2009.

This year will see four classes included for the first time, with driver-only Challenger Class Solar EVs designed primarily for efficiency rather than comfort and Cruiser Class Solar EVs designed primarily for practicality, with at least two forward-facing occupants and judging based on external energy use, time taken to complete the course, payload carried and practicality.

In addition, this year will include the Adventure Class for entry-level teams with Solar EVs built for previous International Solarcar Federation events, plus the Evolution Class for vehicles designed, equipped or modified to demonstrate a significant reduction in environmental impact.

All entries will once again combat one of the world’s harshest environments, including temperatures of well over 40 degrees C and the possibility of bushfires, which caused a temporary halt in proceedings in 2011.

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