Fastest Solar-Powered EV

[alain-chuzel]

Not to rain on anyone’s parade but college students have pretty much always, more or less, made the world’s fastest solar-powered EVs and they’ve been doing it since, at least, the mid 1990’s.

Regarding the width, consider writing to the team via one of their social media “channels” and simply asking. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, let me know and I’ll query my contacts.

[randy-j]

I’m unable to message Andrea Holden on LinkedIn. Don’t have the premium membership

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-holden-b973a91a3/

I watched this a few weeks ago, in it he mentions the next World Solar competition is in 2023. How cool would it be for an Aptera to be there? What a photo op that would be.

World Solar Challenge – How did it all begin?

https://youtu.be/r5PA-aKoeLI

This links to a better written article:

Aussie EV record breakers! Sunswift 7 goes 1000km on a single charge in world’s best time

It weighs just 500kg, about one-quarter that of a Tesla, and boasts superb efficiencies thanks to its aerodynamic design, the efficiency of the motors and throughout the drive chain, plus incredibly low rolling resistance.

The record attempt was not without drama, with a battery management issue causing the car to come to a complete halt at one point. The rules of the event stated Sunswift 7 could not be stationary for more than 15 minutes at a time – and it took the team 14 minutes and 52 seconds to fix the problem and get back onto the track.

Ultimate efficiency

Team Principal, Professor of Practice Richard Hopkins, says the world record shows what is possible and what can be achieved, albeit with a significant weight advantage over road legal cars which require a host of features, such as airbags and an air conditioning systems, that Sunswift 7 does not include.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Randy J.

[alain-chuzel]

I’m sure if you go to their website or facebook you’ll find an email address to write to.

[chakman-yeung]

I was at Formula Sun Grand Prix this past June/July, and my “favorite” car was Polytechnique Montreal’s, is a bit closer to home 😅. If memory serves me well, they won in the Multi-Occupant Vehicle class and finished all of American Solar Challenge without needing to use the external charging allowance (comes with a time penalty, of course).

• This reply was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  ChakMan Yeung. Reason: Delete extraneous HTML tags

[alain-chuzel]

Polytechnique Montreal was head and shoulders above the field and they did, indeed, win the FSGP (track) event and would easily have won the ASC (road) event but for a missed turn!

Were you with a team? If so, which one? Maybe we bumped into each other. My wife and I really enjoyed our time with all the teams and we’re looking forward to the 2023 event.

[chakman-yeung]

I was embedded with The University of Texas to do media, but ended up doing media for the entire event instead. I was the one who did the recap video for scrutineering and the event itself.

I was part of The University of Texas team from 2005-2009 (Samsung Solorean) and have been working in industry since.

[alain-chuzel]

Well thank you for all the media work you did! My wife and I are the solar array “scrutineers” and while FSGP is going on I’m part of the cold/hot pit crew and the wife is in the air conditioned comfort of “headquarters”.

With respect to UT-Austin, we (SunCat Solar) had the pleasure of working with Dr. Gary Hallock in the making the first set of solar panels for “TexSun”. It was quite some time ago…..

[oussama-rahmouni]

The turning radius on this thing must be terrible because of the covered front wheels. I don’t know how such a design would be viable for commercial vehicles.

[alain-chuzel]

Generally, the “covers” open as the front wheels are turned. Turning radius is fine.

[chakman-yeung]

That’s right, American Solar Challenge indirectly tests for that in their dynamics testing: Each car has to be capable of doing Figure 8’s and slaloms at a pretty decent clip.

[alain-chuzel]

Very good point! At least in the U.S. , dynamics testing at the solar race car events can be pretty brutal.