Solar Car Speed Record Smashed

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Solar Car Speed Record Smashed

Posted by timothy on Friday January 21, 2011 @06:13PM from the hats-are-off-to-you dept.

An anonymous reader writes with word from Australia that "There's a new world record for the fastest solar-powered land vehicle: 88 km/h average speed over one kilometre in a lightweight car that uses about the same power as a toaster." As the article goes on to explain, this solar racer, built last year by students from the University of New South Wales, managed to nab that speed record earlier this month on an Australian navy base airstrip.

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88 km/h average speed over one kilometre by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 18:16 · Score: 0

If you convert from mph to kph, that comes out to 0.79 gigawatts!
1. Re:88 km/h average speed over one kilometre by Kagura · 2011-01-21 18:17 · Score: 1
  
  I didn't click "anonymous" on that post, or this one.
  
  1.21 * 0.66 = 0.7986 jiggawhats ;)
2. Re:88 km/h average speed over one kilometre by cappp · 2011-01-21 18:31 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Slashdot's been working on breaking it's own records...only 14 days since this was posted originally.
3. Re:88 km/h average speed over one kilometre by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 18:45 · Score: 0
  
  NO doubt about it: Timothy has been drinking!
4. Re:88 km/h average speed over one kilometre by countertrolling · 2011-01-21 19:57 · Score: 1
  
  14 days is a very long time. Usually they do it in less 14 hours. Eh, waddya expect from a machine?
  
  --
  For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
5. Re:88 km/h average speed over one kilometre by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 21:39 · Score: 0
  
  Pssshh..
  Obviously it happened just now, and on hitting 88kph he managed to generate the 1.21 kW necessary to activate his flux capacitor and go back in time 14 days to post the previous story.
1.21GW by GigaplexNZ · 2011-01-21 18:16 · Score: 2

88km/h? If only they used a metric flux capacitor...
1. Re:1.21GW by camperslo · 2011-01-21 18:33 · Score: 1
  
  88 km/h is very close to 55 MPH
  Toasters use about 1.5 kW which is about 2 horsepower. If one thinks in terms of doing work lifting without other losses, that works out to about 1100 foot-pounds per second.
2. Re:1.21GW by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 20:52 · Score: 0
  
  Let's see if those bastards can do 56 . . .
3. Re:1.21GW by Shrike82 · 2011-01-21 23:34 · Score: 1
  
  I'm gutted about this post for two reasons. Firstly I wanted to make that joke, and secondly I think you might have buggered it up. Kilometers are metric so woudln't they have to use an imperial flux capacitor? Pedantic I know, but that's what I get like when someone beats me to a punchline!
  
  --
  You can advertise in this sig from as little as £99.99 a month!
4. Re:1.21GW by GigaplexNZ · 2011-01-21 23:42 · Score: 1
  
  The way I saw it, imperial speeds should be matched with imperial flux capacitors, and metric speeds matched with metric flux capacitors. To each their own.
5. Re:1.21GW by Chris+Mattern · 2011-01-22 00:15 · Score: 1
  
  And according to the article, it uses only a little less than 1.21 KW...
6. Re:1.21GW by Shrike82 · 2011-01-22 00:34 · Score: 1
  
  Ah yes I see what you mean - you say tomato, I say tomato (you have to do the different pronunciation in your head there). One wonders how long we'll be plagued by competing measurement systems.
  
  --
  You can advertise in this sig from as little as £99.99 a month!
7. Re:1.21GW by pnewhook · 2011-01-22 01:10 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Toasters use about 1.5kW which is about 2 horsepower
  I never understood the term horsepower. Show me two horses that can make toast.
  
  --
  Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
8. Re:1.21GW by pnewhook · 2011-01-22 01:12 · Score: 1
  
  Well the US is the only country left using the imperial system, and even then most industry uses metric (all the bolts in your car are metric for example, regardless of where it was made). Get with the times!
  
  --
  Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
9. Re:1.21GW by Sulphur · 2011-01-22 02:27 · Score: 1
  
  Show me two horses that can make toast.
  Horse toasties! Yum!
10. Re:1.21GW by zippthorne · 2011-01-22 03:34 · Score: 1
  
  No, Emitt "Doc" Brown, who invented the thing, did scientific and engineering research in Hill Valley, California over a period of over 100 years (non-consecutive). He would not have used the imperial system of measurement, ever, as California is a US state and would've used US standard units instead.
  US standard is similar to Imperial, but there are subtle differences. For instance, our gallons are a little bit leaner.
  
  --
  Can you be Even More Awesome?!
11. Re:1.21GW by zippthorne · 2011-01-22 03:37 · Score: 1
  
  SI is the official unit system of the US as well, but we've defined the old units in SI terms so we don't have to print new signs and whatnot. Most of the time it doesn't really matter, anyway. (and where it does, you see more of the metric units.)
  
  --
  Can you be Even More Awesome?!
12. Re:1.21GW by camperslo · 2011-01-22 07:55 · Score: 1
  
  Some may prefer to use the phone and have the toast delivered?
  https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Mister_Ed
  These solar cars and efficiency are a great thing and all, but sometimes I'd still like to see a competition with cars shooting flames out the back, Bat-mobile style...
13. Re:1.21GW by pnewhook · 2011-01-22 13:01 · Score: 1
  
  Most of the time it doesn't really matter, anyway.
  Sure it does. When I visit the US I have no idea how fast I'm going, how far something is, or how warm it is inside or out. I'd say most of the time it really matters!
  
  --
  Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
14. Re:1.21GW by dangitman · 2011-01-22 14:42 · Score: 1
  
  Show me two horses that can make toast.
  How about a muffin?
  
  --
  ... and then they built the supercollider.
15. Re:1.21GW by somersault · 2011-01-22 14:54 · Score: 1
  
  These solar cars and efficiency are a great thing and all, but sometimes I'd still like to see a competition with cars shooting flames out the back, Bat-mobile style...
  I bet those rockets cars are way better for making toast.
  
  --
  which is totally what she said
16. Re:1.21GW by somersault · 2011-01-22 14:56 · Score: 1
  
  We still use miles in the UK too.
  
  --
  which is totally what she said
17. Re:1.21GW by pnewhook · 2011-01-23 08:07 · Score: 1
  
  Yes but its being phased out. When the UK joined the EU, they agreed to adopt all the EU measures which are SI based.
  
  --
  Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
18. Re:1.21GW by somersault · 2011-01-23 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  We use metric measurements for stuff like measuring volumes and weights of food items etc, but we stil use miles as our official unit of distance on all road signs, and mph is the major unit on our speedometers. I've never seen any evidence that we have plans to change that, do you have any citations?
  It would be quite a lot of effort and expense to change all our distance and speed limit signs. Not to mention we'd probably have to do it twice - once for dual units, then eventually after a few years switching to km completely, presumably after all new cars have been sold with km/h as the major unit of measurement for a good few years.
  
  --
  which is totally what she said
Wow, broken twice in a month! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 18:18 · Score: 5, Informative

managed to nab that speed record earlier this month
Kind of like how Slashdot covered it earlier this month?
1. Re:Wow, broken twice in a month! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 19:15 · Score: 0
  
  agreed, how was this missed, pull the finger out
2. Re:Wow, broken twice in a month! by Phoghat · 2011-01-23 02:33 · Score: 1
  
  Leave Slashdot alone!!
  
  --
  Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
I can't drive.... by RESPAWN · 2011-01-21 18:23 · Score: 1

He can't drive 55!

--
If Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.
1. Re:I can't drive.... by Suki+I · 2011-01-21 19:36 · Score: 1
  
  He can't drive 55!
  And I am pretty sure my F250 would crush it. Maybe my exhaust would crush it. Mine is gas, Beloved's D3500 is diesel and his rumble might smash it.
  
  --
  Home of The Suki Series
2. Re:I can't drive.... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-22 07:13 · Score: 0
  
  I'm pretty sure we don't need idiotic comments from dumbass rednecks
  like you.
3. Re:I can't drive.... by iamhassi · 2011-01-22 10:15 · Score: 1
  
  "I am pretty sure my F250 would crush it"
  
  Sure you would, if only you didn't have to spend all day filling your 35 gallon gas tank
  
  --
  my karma will be here long after I'm gone
4. Re:I can't drive.... by Suki+I · 2011-01-22 16:31 · Score: 1
  
  "I am pretty sure my F250 would crush it"
  Sure you would, if only you didn't have to spend all day filling your 35 gallon gas tank
  
  No,that only takes a few moments and I never let it get too dry.
  
  --
  Home of The Suki Series
rules by Lehk228 · 2011-01-21 18:27 · Score: 3, Interesting

are photovoltaics required? it would be fun to enter a steam engine / mirror driven vehicle, something large like the size of a tractor trailer with huge mirror collectors. it wouldn't be very fast but unlike the photocell models it could have an air conditioner and heater core.

--
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
YEAH BUT EVERYTHING IS DOWNHILL IN AUSTRALIA !! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 18:31 · Score: 0

That is not any sort of official record in the rest of the world.
1. Re:YEAH BUT EVERYTHING IS DOWNHILL IN AUSTRALIA !! by MichaelSmith · 2011-01-21 20:02 · Score: 1
  
  They must have done one run going north and another going south. The real trick is sticking to the underside of the planet while in motion.
  
  --
  http://michaelsmith.id.au
Hulk no like land speed record! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 18:33 · Score: 0

HULK SMASH!!
Landspeed record for disabled cars? ( by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 18:36 · Score: 0

This seems rather low, and certainly not a record. Unless they compete in a "differently abled" class?
The Nuna 2 solar powered car that won the World Solar Challenge in 2003 had the following stats for the race:
Total race time: 31 hr 5 mins.
Average speed: 97,02 Km/h
Topspeed: 130 km/h
Top speed they had during Adante tour in 2004: 145 km/h
Link: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMCCBZO4HD_Benefits_2.html [esa.int]
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuna_5 [wikipedia.org] for the stats of the Nuna 5.
Theoretical max speed: 175 km/h
Keep in mind that this was done by a (Dutch) university team as well.
Considering the fact that the sunswift team wants to compete in the WSC as well - I think they either need to get up to 188 km/h, or throw in the towel. Or perhaps I'm missing something but I did RTA and nothing suggests they really set a new speedrecord, except their own propaganda.
1. Re:Landspeed record for disabled cars? ( by Caustic+Soda · 2011-01-21 18:53 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  When I read the (non-slashdot) article when it originally came out, they hold the record for the fastest speed in a vehicle entirely powered by solar panels. Most solar vehicles use the panels to charge batteries, and then run from the battery, whereas this vehicle used the power directly.
2. Re:Landspeed record for disabled cars? ( by scdeimos · 2011-01-21 19:59 · Score: 1
  
  You are correct. There were a whole bunch of slashdotters who couldn't make the distinction in the article from a month ago as well.
Toaster? by Jane+Q.+Public · 2011-01-21 18:57 · Score: 1

"uses about the same power as a toaster" is a bit misleading. Try hooking up a generator and inverter to a bicycle frame, and powering that toaster. I'll watch.
1. Re:Toaster? by jovius · 2011-01-21 19:17 · Score: 2
  
  Toaster powered car would be awesome. Besides the exhaust projectiles could solve global starvation, unlike rocket exhaust fumes, for example.
2. Re:Toaster? by MichaelSmith · 2011-01-21 20:06 · Score: 2
  
  Saw this in a science museum once. The setup you describe powering a CRT television. The TV needed 500 watts and I could just barely get it running. Electric bicycles in my state are limited to 200W by the way but they don't have to drag banks of photovoltaic cells around with them.
  
  --
  http://michaelsmith.id.au
3. Re:Toaster? by pnewhook · 2011-01-22 01:16 · Score: 2
  
  I don't see why 'same power as a toaster' is misleading - it's a comparison of power. What does your example prove?
  
  --
  Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
4. Re:Toaster? by AikonMGB · 2011-01-22 01:23 · Score: 1
  
  Likewise, I would like to see you strap pedals to a drive train underneath that solar car, and powering it to 88 km/h for a kilometre; I'll watch.
  
  In the Autumn of 1985, at the International Human Powered Speed Championships, a fully-faired Moulton ridden by Jim Glover broke the 200 metres flying start speed record, at 50.21mph (80.79kph). Then on August 29th 1986, at the same event, he broke his own record at a speed of 51.29mph (82.54kph) which still stands today for the conventional riding position. [1].
  It seems that if you design a bike completely around top speed, and if you are a professional-caliber cyclist in excellent competition health, you can beat 88 km/h for brief periods [2]. On the other hand, these are 200 m races lasting under 10 s, so they are a little more sprinty than the 1 km achieved by the car in question.
  Aikon-
5. Re:Toaster? by fizzup · 2011-01-22 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  Very few humans are capable of generating a kilowatt, and none of the ones that can do it are capable of doing it for 40 seconds (1km / 88km/h). Typically, people consume about 100 watts in food power. Generating ten times that power (mechanically) using just your legs is hard and unsustainable.
  So, you're saying that an engine incapable of generating 1kw can't push the test car as fast as an engine that is capable of generating 1kw at the drive axle (FTFA: 1050w * 0.98). Yes, you are correct.
6. Re:Toaster? by Jane+Q.+Public · 2011-01-24 15:44 · Score: 1
  
  The point I was trying to make is that a lot of people don't understand how much power a toaster needs to run. It's far from trivial.
Whoosh by ShakaUVM · 2011-01-21 19:17 · Score: 2

Well, since they were in Australia, they actually ended up going -88 km/h.
Would not buy again by T+Murphy · 2011-01-21 19:17 · Score: 1, Funny

uses about the same power as a toaster.
Let me get this straight: I put my bread in this thing, and then instead of giving me my toast, it brings it a kilometer away and now I have to go get it? Worst toaster ever.

--
My webcomic
1. Re:Would not buy again by c6gunner · 2011-01-21 19:37 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Better than getting nailed in the face by 88km/h toast ...
2. Re:Would not buy again by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 23:19 · Score: 0
  
  The toast is cold, too.
But, but, but . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 19:34 · Score: 0

"88 km/h average speed over one kilometre"
How much is that in real speed?
1. Re:But, but, but . . . by sjwt · 2011-01-21 19:55 · Score: 1
  
  That would be 88 km/h.
  Join the rest of the world!
  
  --
  You have 5 Moderator Points!
  Which Helpless Linux zealot/MS basher do you want to mod down today?
2. Re:But, but, but . . . by rossdee · 2011-01-22 01:22 · Score: 1
  
  88 kilometres per hour is about 24.44 metres per second.
3. Re:But, but, but . . . by maxwell+demon · 2011-01-22 06:26 · Score: 1
  
  "88 km/h average speed over one kilometre"
  How much is that in real speed?
  8.2*10^-8 c.
  
  --
  The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
Duplicate by jklovanc · 2011-01-21 19:46 · Score: 2

Com on guys can't you even to a simple search on past articles before posting a new one? This is the third time this week a duplicate article has been posted; two of them from this month.
This is a duplicate of http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/01/09/0418256/Aussie-Team-Smashes-Land-Speed-Record-For-Solar-Powered-Cars posted on January 9th.
1. Re:Duplicate by scdeimos · 2011-01-21 20:00 · Score: 1
  
  You must be new here.
2. Re:Duplicate by whereiswaldo · 2011-01-21 23:21 · Score: 1
  
  Off-the-wall theory: most dupes are on purpose. The second time around, people have had more time to think about (and maybe even read!) the article and initial responses, provoking more thoughtful replies. Probably not, though. :)
3. Re:Duplicate by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-22 00:03 · Score: 0
  
  Better theory: Dups create more articles to up the page views.
4. Re:Duplicate by pnewhook · 2011-01-22 01:18 · Score: 2
  
  Com on guys can't you even to a simple search on past articles before posting a new one?
  Can't you? Do you know how many people have already pointed out that this is a duplicate post?
  
  --
  Tesla was a genius. Edison however was a overrated hack who liked to torture puppies.
5. Re:Duplicate by flanders123 · 2011-01-22 02:54 · Score: 1
  
  I, for one, welcome our dupe posting overlords...I missed the original.
6. Re:Duplicate by Ada_Rules · 2011-01-22 03:04 · Score: 1
  
  Better theory: Dups create more articles to up the page views.
  One of the great mysteries of the universe is how we manage to achieve the slashdot effect even though no one appears to read the original article so it is even more confusing how a duplicate submission can result in more page views.
  
  --
  --- Liberty in our Lifetime
7. Re:Duplicate by jklovanc · 2011-01-22 06:33 · Score: 1
  
  When I posted I could see no replies so I added my entry.
8. Re:Duplicate by Thing+1 · 2011-01-23 13:30 · Score: 1
  
  Having done no research, here's my thought: it's only the articles that receive fewer than "X" replies which are duped. (No idea what the value of "X" is.)
  
  --
  I feel fantastic, and I'm still alive.
After Dark by ljw1004 · 2011-01-21 19:53 · Score: 1

88kph on as much power as a toaster? That's nothing. We've had flying toasters for years...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cm7tv5cM8g
Bullshit claim. by rew · 2011-01-21 21:05 · Score: 0

The Delft, the Neterlands "Nuna" solar car drives an average of around 100km/h over 3000km.
http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/home/history/results-to-date
Ok. Due to an accident, they didn't win in 2009, and they didn't beat the Japanese (this time). But the Japanese verifiably averaged over 100km/h over that 3000 race, so I'm guessing they beat the 100km mark on some of those kilometers....
1. Re:Bullshit claim. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-21 21:38 · Score: 0
  
  the australien speed record is for solar powered cars *without* batteries. nuna had a battery. in the australien car the cells drove the engine directly.
2. Re:Bullshit claim. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-22 00:27 · Score: 0
  
  Again, learn to read TFA before calling bulls
3. Re:Bullshit claim. by Dthief · 2011-01-22 11:06 · Score: 1
  
  what article?
  
  --
  www.RacquetUp.org - Helping Detroit Youth
Lighter weight by Culture20 · 2011-01-22 05:55 · Score: 1

Call me when they achieve these speed records by increasing solar power yield and not by paring down the structure of the cars below the safety standards of soapbox derby racers.
Re:Bullshit claim. RTFA by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-22 07:18 · Score: 0

RTFA.... No battery, it was direct power from the solar cells. I managed a solar car team and you can do 120+km/h easy no problem with battery... Although no battery is misleading too, the minute the clouds come this thing is toast, at least put the battery in to get realistic weight in that vehicle