October 19, 2011 - 6:32pm
'U' Solar Car Team competing in World Solar Challenge in Australia
BY SABIRA KHAN
While most University students returned home or relaxed in Ann Arbor during Fall Break, 16 members of the University’s Solar Car Team were in the scorching Australian Outback, vying to win the World Solar Challenge.
The World Solar Challenge, a biennial solar car competition, pits solar car teams against each other in a 3,000-kilometer race from Darwin to Adelaide. The University’s team previously competed in the race four times but never placed higher than third. As of Tuesday, the team was in third place in the competition. The challenge is expected to be over late tonight.
Caitlin Sadler, a spokeswoman for the team and a first-year student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, said the team builds a new car every two years. The car competes in several races including the biennial American Solar Challenge, which the team has won three consecutive times. Sadler said the team is the top ranked in the country following its success in the American competition.
Every day during the World Solar Challenge, the teams start racing at 8 a.m. and stop at 5 p.m., when team members camp out in preparation for the next day. During the race, the cars can spend 30 minutes charging and repairing at control stops located at different mile markers.
The University’s team was in third place at the halfway point of the race, but Sadler said, “the gap between us is not insurmountable at this point.”
The Outback’s harsh environment contributes to the challenging nature of the competition. A few days ago, nearby brushfires forced the teams to briefly halt racing, according to Sadler.
“Usually the race takes about four days for the top team, but this year they lost about half a day due to the brushfires,” Sadler said.
She added that this year the teams also have to abide by a new guideline for the type of solar cells they use.
“So all of the teams are having to use solar cells that aren’t as efficient, meaning that its going to take them a little longer to complete the race anyway,” Sadler said.
Engineering junior Aaron Frantz, the team’s interim director of operations, said the team performed several tests to make sure the vehicle was ready for the challenge, and the tests contributed to the team’s success. He added that the team completed the car six months prior to the start date of the competition.
“So far, it looks like the preparation has been paying off: we’ve spent no time on the side of the road and we’re putting pressure on the second place team,” Frantz said.
