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Solar Car To Retrace Cross-Australian Route
Dave Snowdon writes "Its been 20 years since Quiet Achiever, the first solar car, crossed Australia from West to East (~4000km). Sunswift 2, the UNSW solar car is set to retrace the original route, in order to set a new transcontinental record. The original car took 21 days, Sunswift is expected to complete in less than 7."
You are missing the point of the whole exercise. I was involved in the construction of solar boat in college, (only the big schools can afford car programs now) Solar and electric etc car programs, develop alot of new technologies that enter the maintstream. Lightweight construction techniques and new motor technologies help industry as whole. Solar cells themselves get field tested under stressful conditions. Although solar cars will never be sold to consumers, things that look like them will. Cheap molded composite aerodynamic autos, powered by incredibly efficient gas or hybrid engines (130 mpg or so) are necessary to get the 3rd world on wheels.
Right now we are seeing solar panels on some cars to power small vent fans and tickle charge batteries.