eVe begins World Solar Challenge

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) solar racing team, Sunswift, will begin the 3000 km 2013 World Solar Challenge on Sunday 6 October. The Sunswift team, comprising 32 students, built the lightweight solar-electric vehicle - the team’s fifth - for the competition.

Named eVe, the car will compete in the new Michelin Cruiser Class against nine other vehicles from around the world. The class requires the cars to have four wheels, accommodate two people and to meet the road requirements of its country of origin.

“We have put a lot of design effort into making the car functional, but also aesthetically sleek,” said fourth-year mechanical engineering student and project leader Sam Paterson. “We think it’s the sort of car you could drive anywhere.

“This car could represent the starting point for a new era of sustainable driving in Australia.”

The lightweight electric car is predicted to have a top speed of about 140 km/h and, on a charged battery, has a range of more than 600 km. Cars are scored not only on their energy consumption, but also on subjective criteria related to practicality.

Schneider Electric recently announced it will sponsor the Challenger Class in the World Solar Challenge. The company will also donate DC circuit breakers for Sunswift’s electrical protection system. The Schneider Electric circuit breakers will protect the vital solar cell array and battery system from short circuits and overload.

“Energy-efficiency solutions are at the core of what Schneider Electric has to offer and aligning ourselves with one of the key solar challenge racing events across the globe continues to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to achieving an energy-efficient future,” said David Gardner, vice president, Clipsal and Schneider Electric Partner Business.

“The 3000 km race demonstrates some of the most innovative designs for electric vehicles and validates how solar power cars are a viable alternative to their fossil fuel predecessors.”

eVe is Sunswift’s fifth solar racer since the team was formed in 1996. The team’s cars have set two world records for speed.

The UNSW car will start the race at 5 am and will travel roughly 600 kilometres each day, making scheduled overnight stops at Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy and Port Augusta and finishing in Adelaide.