Competitions like the World Solar Challenge and the North American Solar Challenge have given solar-powered transportation an almost unimaginable boost and as a result of contest like this, we are today at a stage where we can actually think of solar-power as a truly feasible and practical energy alternative. The SolarWorld No.1 is one such example. The solar racer is being touted as a future generation racecar especially given that it came in at 4th place at the World Solar Challenge held in Australia also bagging the Best Challenge Class Design Award.
Developed by a team of 50 students and professors from the University of Applied Sciences Bochum over a period of two years, the racer performed at an average speed of approx. 73km/h. with a top speed of 120 km/h over 3000 km in the race. The car is powered by an electric motor which is built into the front wheel rim and can deliver 94% degree of efficiency drawing energy from 6m2 solar cells, which are embedded in the body.
The SolarWorld No.1also features a very comfortable seat position for the driver and the car bears the most similarity to today’s popular mass produced cars. Even though a street-legal pure solar-powered car may still be some way off, designs like the SolarWorld No.1 surely bring us closer to the dream of having clean, green cars being the primary mode of transportation in the future.
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Source: Hochschule Bochum
