Solar cars sprint across the outback: Dream team wins first place
- Lead Development Association International, London (United Kingdom)
- CSIRO, Port Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)
The World Solar Challenge was first held in 1987. It is an international {open_quotes}green prix{close_quotes} for solar-powered cars between Darwin and Adelaide, some 3000 km (1850 miles) across Australia`s {open_quotes}Red Centre. At that time, many marveled in the fact that the winner, the GM Sunraycer, had crossed a continent at an average speed of 66.9 kph (41.5 mph) on just two horsepower and with no consumption of fossil fuel. This feat added to the growing interest in electric vehicles as a possible means for alleviating urban air pollution and conserving gasoline. Indeed, when General Motors introduced the Impact electric car in 1991, the Company asserted that the vehicle had capitalized on engineering and design principles first put into practice with Sunraycer. In particular, the Sunraycer project had led to important new advances in electronics, motor design, structural materials, tyres, and aerodynamic efficiency. The performance of these electric vehicles is described.
- OSTI ID:
- 468383
- Journal Information:
- Battery Man, Journal Name: Battery Man Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 39; ISSN BAMAB6; ISSN 0005-6359
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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