The World Solar Challenge features a field of competitors from around the world who race to cross the Australian continent. The teams depart from Darwin with finish line in Adelaide, some 3000km (1,900 mi) to the south.
It's all about energy management! Based on the original notion that a 1000W car would complete the journey in 50 hours, solar cars are allowed a nominal 5kW hours of stored energy, which is 10% of that theoretical figure. All other energy must come from the sun or be recovered from the kinetic energy of the vehicle. Once the teams have left Darwin they must travel as far as they can until 5pm in the afternoon where they make camp in the desert where-ever they happen to be. All teams must be fully self-sufficient.
The top finishers of the 2015 World Solar Challenge, held October 2015, are:
1st Place - Nuon Solar Team, Netherlands
2nd Place - Solar Team Twente, Netherlands
3rd Place - Tokai University, Japan
4th Place - University of Michigan Solar Car Team, USA
For more information on the challenge, results of the races, and a video of the winning team, visit the World Solar Challenge website.
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