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42 Solar-Powered Cars Race in 31st Annual 'Solar Challenge' Race (engadget.com)
An anonymous reader quotes Engadget:
It's a special moment in the history of clean energy: the 30th anniversary World Solar Challenge has begun. A total of 42 solar-powered cars (the largest field to date) left Darwin, Australia on October 8th to travel roughly 1,880 miles to Adelaide. The race officially lasts a week, but it's likely going to end considerably sooner for the front-runners -- the world record holders, Tokai University, took just under 30 hours in 2009...
This year, the race regulations are a clear sign of how rapidly solar technology is changing. Teams have to use a smaller solar collector than before: cars in the Challenger class can have no more than 43 square feet of solar cells versus nearly 65 square feet for the previous race, in 2015. That's half the area allowed on cars from the original 1987 race. In other words, technology is advanced enough now (both in solar cells and the underlying vehicle designs) that you don't need a sea of panels to keep a car running.
This year, the race regulations are a clear sign of how rapidly solar technology is changing. Teams have to use a smaller solar collector than before: cars in the Challenger class can have no more than 43 square feet of solar cells versus nearly 65 square feet for the previous race, in 2015. That's half the area allowed on cars from the original 1987 race. In other words, technology is advanced enough now (both in solar cells and the underlying vehicle designs) that you don't need a sea of panels to keep a car running.
I look forward to this race being run in Finland in October next year with the same winning criteria.
Of course this is getting easier in late spring in a sunny desert. The success for real life usage will be when this works in a place with inclement weather and short days - like where most of the world's population lives for most of the year.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled"
The World Solar Challenge is supposed to be a biennial race held in the "odd years" but they've missed a couple along the way. 2017 will actually be the 14th race.
I'm amazed by the speed. 1,880 miles in 30 hours is an average of 62 mph. I don't think I could drive that far, that fast, in a conventional car. Those solar teams are amazing.
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
While impressive, these things more resemble aerodynamically shrouded electric tricycles than they do conventional automobiles. Not for the claustrophobic, the driver is practically wearing the vehicle more than riding in it. While, they do show the advancements in materials science and solar technology, The vast improvements in times probably has more to do with the vehicles getting much lighter, probably via carbon fiber and lithium batteries these days, vs much heavier materials 31 years ago, which probably has more effect on the range and speed than the power generation getting much better.
I've decided to Diversify my Holdings. I've divided my cash between my left and right pockets, instead of all in one.
I wonder if cars like the Tesla could use Solar panels on their roof to absorb Solar power to gradually recharge their batteries as they drive to make the battery last longer, and go further on long trips?
I think it is the aerodynamics that count.
Looking at the car, it has a fairly blunt windscreen and a pointy back. Which is exactly the opposite of modern fashion in cars with their blunt backs and very flat windscreens that make the car so hot you need air con on even moderately hot days, let alone the desert.
Based on my own calculations, I'm going to guess that the old regulation value is actually 6 square metres, while the new one is 4 square metres.
To put that into slightly more concrete terms, the highest output-per-unit solar panels I can easily find are 2 square metres, so that's the equivalent of two solar panels instead of three.
Maybe its just me being spoiled but I think it is a bit of a stretch to call many of those vehicle contraptions "cars."
Still it is a great demonstration of engineering prowess. No question there.
I'm APK and so is my wife,
To really fake apk you need to use more bold and more arrows, 5/10 poor effort.
Want free R&D? Start up some nonsensical event (race) and make up the rules such that all the IP rights go to you!
The whole article is shifted to the right with no obvious way to scroll to it. I can read it in google cache text only but cant seem to find anything to delete in the element inspector to make it right.
See subject: Whoever you are attempting to impersonate me just proves I've REALLY gotten to you (thanks)!
AssFux Ash-Fox? He's a weasel who ALWAYS starts w/ me (he's 'butthurt' I've busted him up on tech issues is all that is) - in fact, I'd bet you are HE doing this impersonating me.
* HOWEVER (in a way) - I am with you on something though - there is a TON of bogus downmoderation but as the saying goes? "When all your opposition has is censorship you've obviously won"
&
I am highly against the LOON(s) who shot all those folks up in Vegas - I think it's somekind of falseflag OR an attempt @ further dividing our nation up ala the KING of bogus evil in that capacity, George Soros paying off groups like BLM & Antifa to do so - but GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE - people do. NO reason to ban guns!
APK
P.S.=> Provoking weasel reactions like yours is all the satisfaction anyone needs seeing as you try to "impersonate" me loser... apk