Solar Cars
Let's face it, nearly everyone wants
a solar car. However, at present, even the fancy ones you see in the solar
car races are transferring from sunlight to wheels around the same power
that it takes to run a hair dryer...about 1500 watts. A little disappointed?
Don't be.
The Queen's University
RADIANCE brinkled its way across Canada in July of
2000, visiting most major cities on its way. Radiance
started from Nova Scotia July 1, 2000 and arrived in Vancouver, B.C. July
29th. The Queens' University Solar Car team set the Guinness world land
distance record for solar vehicles. Using only 1,000 watts of power,
they drove 7044 km (4377 miles), at an average speed of 80 km/h (50 mph)
. Radiance took second place at both
Sunrayce '99 and the 1999 World Solar Challenge in Australia.
Queens University
Solar Car Team, with "Gemini", 2003
(Photo by: Stefano Paltera / American Solar Challenge)
America Solar Challenge 2005
The American Solar Challenge is normally held every two years within
the U.S., but in this special international edition, students will
design, build and test solar-powered cars across the United States
and Canada. The 2,500-mile challenge begins in Austin, Texas, July
17 and will finish July 27 in Calgary, Alberta.
World Solar Challenge
"Known as 'Brain-Sport' the World Solar Challenge participants will traverse
more than 3,000km over the Australian continent - from tropical Darwin
to balmy Adelaide, in cars powered by nothing more than the sun.The
8th World Solar Challenge will depart Darwin on Sunday 25 September
2005"
Winston Solar Challenge
["...is an international education program designed
for teaching high school students the physics and technology associated
with a road worthy solar car." Check out their informative History
of Solar Car Racing.
However, if a simple working model solar car
is where you'd like to start:
SunWind
sells individual and classroom kits for building
simple solar cars and other solar-driven machines.
Junior Solar Sprint
is a fun hands-on educational program for 6th, 7th and
8th grade students in the U.S.A. Students are supplied with solar panels,
motors, and detailed suggestions; and mentored to build and race working
model solar cars. Excellent middle school mechanics instructions wrapped
around designing and building a solar car. Free downloads in pdf format and
animated computer programs.
Building
a Model Solar Car HomePage
[Instructions prepared by the Minnesota Renewable
Energy Society for Junior Solar Sprint cars.]
Chuck Wright's Home Page
Chuck Wright has a site to explore! Check out his
energy-use calculators, his inexpensive pyranometer, his detailed notes on
Jr. Solar Sprint Cars, and lots more.
Solar Boats
Sunlight on the water-planet...
Want to float and get somewhere? Try a solar boat.
The
Story (and History) of Solar Powered Boats
"Solar boats are electrical boats, with independent, quiet and clean
engines, whose batteries store free energy from the sun."
For Solar Boats around the world, see the Solar
Navigator site.
For Solar Boat Model ideas, see: Plugging
into the Sun in the U.K.
SOLAR SPLASH "...is the World Championship
of Solar/Electric boating.
It is an international intercollegiate competition that takes place
over five days."
Electric Vehicles
Although not strictly solar, you may be interested
in Electrifying
Times for zero emissions (depending on their source of electricity)
vehicles.
A great site for general information about electric
vehicles is ElectroAuto.com.
No other electric car company has this depth
of automotive experience. No one else has been building
electric cars as long."
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