Cambridge University Unveiled Solar Car
Technology.am (Apr. 7, 2009) — Cambridge University Eco Racing’s (CUER) new solar racing car demonstrates cutting-edge environmentally-friendly technology, applicable to the next generation of electric vehicles.
The vehicle, currently codenamed ‘Bethany‘, will compete in the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2009. This vehicle is capable of cruising at 60mph using the same power as a hairdryer. The car will weigh just 160kg and sports 6m2 of the world’s highest efficiency silicon solar cells.
In order to achieve the car’s extraordinary performance, CUER’s engineering team has systematically reduced energy usage for each part of the car. Aerodynamics, rolling resistance, weight and electrical efficiency have all been optimised to create a vehicle that uses up to 50 times less power than a normal petrol car and has potentially infinite range.
Extensive computer modelling and simulation have been necessary to achieve this, using Dassault Systèmes’ SolidWorks and Simulia packages for mechanical design, ANSYS’s Fluent for aerodynamic simulation, as well as National Instrument’s LabVIEW and The MathWorks’ MatLab and Simulink for systems modelling. Under its solar skin, the racing car is simply an ultra-efficient electric vehicle.
The technologies used are therefore applicable to the commercial electric cars that are beginning to appear on our roads. Technologies used include a 98% efficient electric hub motor, control systems providing battery management (supplied by REAPsystems) and regenerative braking, lightweight mechanical design, and carbon fibre composite bodywork.
Looks like a cross between a keyboard and a submarine!
From one of the members of the first American team to ever finish the race in Akita, Japan. I wish your Team, the best of luck. The technologie since my race in 2002 has come a long way. Beat Honda.
What where the costs?
Why wasn’t the “film type” solar tape used on the curves/under side? (low light acceptable)
I’d mitt that.
MIT’s Eleanor cost a quarter mil, but it does 90MPH: http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/hot-wheels—mi.html
This one’s a bit sexier though. I’d definitely ride it… er, in it.
Whats the point in this thing there is no practical use for it it seems like a complete waste of money to me
The point is that new technologies have to come from somewhere and racing is where new technologies come from for the car industry. It is not a waste of money, keep going.
There will be thousands of practical uses for solar vehicles, both in industrial settings and urban environments. These prototypes will spawn new applications.
Seeing no practical use for it is a limitation of your creativity, not of the technology.
its not a waste of money! nascar racing and that kind of racing is a waste of ressources!
I don’t want to put this down because I think it’s great that they are pushing solar power, but we built a car of similar design in the late 90′s that was capable of doing over 90 mph. We actually tested it. We took it across the United States without powering up. This isn’t new technology. The problem is the car would have cost over $300K if the parts hadn’t had been donated to the school. It’s not cost efficient and you are up the creek on a stormy day.
Solar panels and advancement are becoming more economical and finding more niche applications as academia improves construction, efficiency, and durability. This car, like some of its forefathers, is a “next step forward” in applied physics, and the applications are endless. Successes like these also end up spurring new investment in Green energy research, leading to further innovation, etc. But there are also benefits to NASCAR race data, such as tire stress analysis and chemical composition, safety cage improvements (the roll cages and driver suits of NOMEX) and the alignment/suspension data are used in designs as well. We are a long way past the Model T. Motorsport events like Topfuel and NASCAR are just as important as the CUER, and both are worthy. BTW, I would point out that BENOIT, to my understanding, is French, as is “LE MANS”.
Do you have an RSS feed I can subscribe to? (sorry for posting so many comments cant help myself)
Its been done. I would be far more impressed with a two seater Triumph that runs on capicators that can do 80mph for two hundred miles and costs less than 20 grand.
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