Solar vehicle unveiled by Stanford: named Sundae
The Stanford Solar Car Project, a student-run engineering initiative at Stanford University, is preparing for the upcoming Bridgestone World Solar Challenge with their latest creation, Sundae. This innovative solar-powered vehicle is set to join the race in October, marking a significant milestone for the team.
Sundae's design continues Stanford's tradition of crafting ultra-efficient solar vehicles. The car boasts a catamaran aerobody, reducing air resistance and maximising the solar array's size. Its carbon fiber monocoque chassis ensures a lightweight structure, while advanced solar cell arrays cover the top surface to optimise sunlight harvesting.
The team's main goals for the race are straightforward: to not break down and to rank in the top 3. To achieve this, Sundae is equipped with energy-efficient electric motors and a battery pack. The battery, capable of lasting around 150 miles, offers a range that depends on the speed at which the car is traveling.
During the race in the Australian outback, Sundae will be driven at a constant speed of 55 mph. The team plans to drive the car for at least 2000 miles during testing to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Sundae is smaller than its predecessor, Arctan, due to new rules from the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. This smaller size presents a design and build challenge for the team, pushing them to innovate and optimise the car's performance.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a prestigious biennial race that tests the endurance and energy efficiency of solar vehicles. With a route spanning roughly 3,000 km, the race offers a significant real-world trial of Stanford's renewable energy vehicle technology.
Maggie, a team member, mentioned that solar cars are not very practical for everyday use due to the typical car's lack of surface area for the solar array and excessive drag. However, she also noted that rain is unlikely during the race, and if it occurs, the water would not necessarily be bad for the solar array's cells, provided they are waterproofed.
The team's main goal for the battery in Sundae was to make it as safe as possible, similar to batteries used in Tesla and other electric cars. They obtained the battery for Sundae directly from Panasonic after reviewing the design to ensure safety.
The cost of Sundae, including sponsorships and other investments, is estimated to be around 2 million dollars. The team will be in Darwin, Australia, ready to race Sundae on October 8 of this year.
For exact and up-to-date design details, technical specifications, or specifics of Sundae’s race plans, the best source would be the official Stanford Solar Car Project website or recent press releases from the team.
Science and technology are integral components in the Stanford Solar Car Project's creation of Sundae, as the car features advanced solar cell arrays and carbon fiber monocoque chassis, demonstrating the application of cutting-edge renewable energy vehicle technology. Meanwhile, the sports aspect is represented by the competitive nature of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, where Sundae will be evaluated based on factors such as speed, endurance, and energy efficiency.
