Eco Factor: Solar-powered car capable of hitting 100mph.
Dr. Graham Sparey of Wrexham University is developing a solar car that will be capable of hitting a top speed of 100mph without emitting a single gram of CO2 or a single decibel of noise. The car, which will be showcased in September, will cost less than $16,000. The car is a follow-up to the “Gwawr Cymru” solar car, which featured a top speed of 60mph and competed in the 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australia.
Though many details on the car aren’t available yet, the designer does state that the 465 lb. car would feature two drive trains for different driving modes. The Efficiency Drive mode will be powered by an 11KW 72 V DC motor and the high-performance mode will be powered by a 35KW AC motor system. The motors will be coupled with highly-efficient and low weight lead acid batteries to reduce the weight of the car, enabling it to burn the streets at 100mph.
Via: Wired
