The record-breaking run by Sunswift IVY used only 1050 watts of power, similar to that used by a toaster.
Credit: Sunswift IVy / UNSW
ADELAIDE: 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.
The vehicle, called Sunswift IVy, was built from scratch in 2009 by students from the University of New South Wales in Sydney. Its large, wing-like surface area picks up maximum sunlight to power its three wheels.
“We're really on the edge of energy efficiency,” said project manager Daniel Friedman, whose team managed to convert 98% of power from solar panels into kinetic energy. The record run used only 1050 watts of power, similar to that used by a toaster.
Record broken despite cloud threat
The record was broken on January 7, 2011 at the at the HMAS Albatross navy base airstrip in Nowra, New South Wales, with officials from Guinness World Records in attendance.
With near constant cloud cover, the day had less than perfect weather conditions for a solar powered car, but at 10:30am a break in clouds offered the necessary sunlight for the team to make the record of 88 km/h average speed over one kilometre.
The previous world record was 78 km/h, made by General Motors' Sunracer in 1987. Sunswift went 13% faster using 25% less power.
Efficiency is the key
Solar car designs need to minimise friction and drag. “Once you have an aerodynamic design you have to go from that computer simulation into something sturdy and safe,” said Friedman.
Built with carbon fibre, Sunswift is a tenth the weight of an average car. It usually contains a battery, but this was removed for the world record attempt.
The vehicle features a motor controller - a black box that decides whether power goes to the battery or to the wheels. It also uses regenerative braking. “When we brake we actually charge up the battery,” said Friedman.
Technology impacts on hybrid, electric vehicles
The Sunswift IVy project took 18 months to complete and cost $280,000 plus goods provided by sponsors. It uses silicon solar cells like those found on rooftops, manufactured in 2001 and 2002. Although the gallium arsenide variety used on satellites are more efficient, they are also five times more expensive, he said.
Fun Facts
1. The TopCell Project was a world first for any solar car team, and remains the only time any team has ever manufactured their own solar cells. This occurred in 2000-01 for Sunswift II (http://www.sunswift.com/project/history#topcell). However, the solar cells on IVy, the current car, were fabricated by SunPower and encapsulated by Gochermann.
2. The $280,000 price tag on IVy doesn't include some costs which are invaluable: the aerospace-grade carbon fiber (donated by Boeing), the use of facilities such as ovens to bake the carbon fiber shells (again, Boeing), or the expertise and mentorship provided freely by sponsors such as NICTA, Sunshine 'N Water, and the University of New South Wales.
Kristen Casalenuovo
Business Team Leader, Sunswift
Updated
Thanks for letting us know, Kristen. We've updated the story.
Becky Crew
Editorial Assistant
The Sunswift IVy Solar Car & Its Marketplace Future Value
In response to Daniel Friedman's remark that "You'd never buy one (a solar car)," I generally differ with him, as, although I would not buy such an ugly car as the three-wheel Sunswift IVy solar racing car, I would be quite enthusiastic about owning an affordable attractive, conventional looking and featured solar car that was also a plug-in rechargeable battery-powered all-electric car (a combination solar charged and plug-in-charged battery all-electric car). I am certain that the Sunswift IVy demonstration solar car will contribute to the eventuality of such a car as a practical purchase option in the mainstream automobile marketplace.
nice
very nice a car