EPIC SOLAR CHALLENGE

TEAMS from more than 40 countries recently competed in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge which took place on the Stuart Highway, an almost 3000km long road that stretches from Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia. The race owes its origins to adventurer Hans Tholstrup and engineer Larry Perkins who drove a solar-powered car, The Quiet Achiever, from Perth to Sydney (4130km) in the early eighties. Inaugurated in 1987 with pioneer sponsor, the South Australian Tourism Commission, the World Solar Challenge biannually showcases

Challenger Class

1. Nuon Solar Team – The Netherlands 2. University of Michigan Solar Team – USA 3. Punch Powertrain Solar Team – Belgium the latest solar automotive technology. The event is one of the world’s most-watched innovation-based challenges. Past participants in the race include Google co-founder Larry Page and Tesla co-founder JB Straubel. Every vehicle in the race is powered by the sun, and most are funded by corporations or universities. Dutch team “Nuon” travelling at an average speed of 81.2 kmph was declared the 2017 winner for the third-straight year, continuing its dominance of an innovative contest showcasing new vehicle technology. The team’s winning time was 37 hours, 10 minutes and 41 seconds.

Cruiser Class

1. Solar Team Eindhoven – The Netherlands 2. HS Bochum – Germany 3. Clenergy Team Arrow – Australia

HAND-BUILT by brothers Larry and Garry Perkins, the Quiet Achiever was the world’s first practical long-distance car powered entirely by photovoltaic solar cells. Driven by Hans Holstrup and Larry Perkins the 4m long, 150 kg vehicle successfully...