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Solar Powered Car Can Get Close To 60 mph

Posted by timothy on from the australians-still-on-about-transportation dept.

Jason Sahler writes with this excerpt from Inhabit: "The World Solar Challenge across the Australian outback is coming up, and we're already seeing some truly incredible vehicles going for the gold. Take the Bethany, a solar powered vehicle designed by Cambridge University students. The vehicle is capable of achieving close to 60 miles per hour. Doesn't sound too impressive? Try doing it by using the power required to run a hairdryer."

3 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. Pushing the limits of tech by peterdaly · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is very interesting technology. These solar races really produce odd looking vehicles. Three wheels makes sense in terms of rolling resistance, but I can help but think what might happen if it needed to take a turn fast.

    Programs like this are great, and help push the technology envelope. Although it's neat that it can hit 60Mph...the article really does not have much real information in it.

    I hope to see some of this technology filter down into production cars. I've always wondered how much power could result from the sunlight hitting the roof of my car all day long when I'm at work. Seems like there is potential missed opportunity there.

    -Pete

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    Soccer Goal Plans
  2. Re:Which means for the greenies... by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I doubt we will see a sell-able fully solar powered car in our lifetime. As there are many concepts that make it impractical
    Night Driving
    Garages
    Extended periods of poor weather.
    Tree Coverage
    Building coverage in Cities

    However out of these competitions we come with a lot of good technology more then just solar power. The fact that you car powered off the energy of a hair dryer. Could be used in many mechanical devices longer lasting battery powered devices. Heck they could use the technology and make a more efficient hair dryer.

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    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  3. Re:No, not impressed. by oneiros27 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was on the GW solar car team more than 10 years ago -- we could do 60mph back then, so I'm not impressed, either.

    The important factors included: how much sun is there are the time, are you willing to drain the batteries, and are we going uphill?

    If you've got good sun, don't have a screwed up array like we did in the '95 Sunrayce, and are willing to drain your batteries, it's easy to go over 60mph. And if you're going downhill, it's even easier.

    Of course, that year they decided to put the finish line at the top of a mountain, and we had mostly clouds for the last few days, so just about everyone showed poorly overall.

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    Build it, and they will come^Hplain.