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The
Queen's University Solar Vehicle team has designed, built and raced nine
cars, shown below. Click the timeline below to view details on our past
cars and results, or continue reading for a brief summary of the team's
history. The team is currently building our tenth vehicle, to be
raced in the North American Solar Challenge and the World Solar Challenge
in 2005.
The
team started in 1988 with our first car Photomoto. This car was designed
for, and won, the Great Canadian Solar Challenge. Since then six other
cars have been built and raced all over the world with stunning results.
Our most recent car, Gemini, came in 5th at the American Solar
Challenge 2003 (Chicago, IL to Barstow, CA). The team finished in 4th
place at the World Solar Car Challenge '03 (Darwin to Adelaide). In
both races we were the first two-person car to cross each finish line, and
were the only Canadian entrant into the World Solar Challenge.
Queens
University Solar Car "Gemini", 2003
American Solar Challenge
The
team is made up of about one hundred undergraduate students from Queen's
University at Kingston, mainly from the Faculty of Applied Science, the
Faculty of Arts & Science, and the School of Business. Students
perform all the tasks related to the team from engineering design and
construction, to team administration and public education. It is a
valuable opportunity that provides students with experience in
engineering, management and teamwork preparing them for the workforce of
today and tomorrow.
Queen's
University's Ninth Solar Vehicle
Completed: Summer 2003
Forever
filling up with petrol? Let's face it, nearly everyone wants a solar
car. However, at present, even fancy solar cars, ones (you see
in the solar car races) are transferring the energy from sunlight to
road-wheels about the same power that it takes to run a hair dryer.
That's all, About 1500 watts. A little disappointed?
Don't be. As with formula one racing, the competition is fast
improving the technology. That's what it is all about.
Back
in July of 2000, The Queen's
University RADIANCE bimbled its way across Canada, visiting most
major cities on its way. 'Radiance' started from Nova Scotia July 1,
2000 and arrived in Vancouver, B.C. July 29th. The Queens' University
Solar Car team set the Guinness world land distance record for solar
vehicles. Using only 1,000 watts of power, they drove 7044 km (4377
miles), at an average speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) . 'Radiance' took second
place at both Sunrayce '99 and the 1999 World Solar Challenge in
Australia.
September
8, 2003: WSC Fundraising Drive in Full Swing
So
what next for Queen's University. Well, the sleek looking beastie
below is Gemini. Last year the team strived hard to raise funds for
the World Solar Challenge 2003. They needed to raise $45,000
Those listed below contributed magnificently and deserve a special
mention:-
Faculty
of Engineering , the Engineering Society, and the Applied Science Class of
'44: $10,000
Veltom
Sales and Rentals Ltd.: $5,000
ITLMA
Foundation: $5,000
Department
of Physics: $2,000
Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering: $5000
Suncor:
$1,000
If
you are interested in sponsoring Queen's University they'd love to hear
from you! Please email the team at solar@engsoc.queensu.ca
or call at 613-533-6682 and ask for a member of our sponsorship crew
(Andrew Smith, Kimberly Farnell, or Andrew Mason).
American
Solar Challenge 2003 Journal
The
Queen's Solar Vehicle Team officially holds the record for
"Furthest Distance Traveled by a Solar Car in One Journey" in
the
2002 Guinness Book of World Records.
(Search for "solar car" to find our record).
Team
News:
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July
24, 2003: Press Release & Pictures!
The team's
latest press release is now available here.
Pictures from the last day of the race are also now available here.
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July
23, 2003: Gemini top two-seater in ASC!
Gemini raced to
a 7th place finish overall today in the American Solar
Challenge. The team finished the gruelling 3700 km race as the
top two-seater car and second Canadian entry, despite many
early setbacks. The team is very proud of Gemini's performance
and is looking forward to some well deserved rest over the
next couple of days. To congratulate the team on a strong
race, please sign our guestbook.
Journal entries
with lots of pictures and videos have now been updated for the
17th - 22nd. To view them, click here.
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July
22, 2003: Gemini blazes into Barstow, CA
Gemini finished
the third stage of the ASC yesterday in Barstow, CA. The team
was the sixth one into the checkpoint and currently sits in
7th place overall. Team members are taking a well-deserved day
off before the beginning of the final stage of the race, which
runs from Barstow to Claremont tomorrow. Racing begins at 12
PM (EST), so stay peeled to our site and the ASC
website. For a press
release on finishing the third stage of the race, click
here.
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July
18, 2003: Gemini reaches Albuquerque, NM.
Gemini reached
the end of the second stage of the ASC mid-morning today. It
was the fourth car to pull into the stop and is currently
sitting in eighth place. Read the press release here.
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July
18, 2003: New pics up.
Team pictures
from July 10 and have been posted in the ASC
journal area.
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July
17, 2003: Up to the minute!
Queen's
is the second team to reach Amarillo, TX, the fifth checkpoint
on the race route. The team continues to chip away at the time
gap between itself and seventh place.
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July
16, 2003: Gemini jumps to 8th place in ASC.
After
a couple of rough days of mechanical problems and blown tires,
Gemini finally had a day of problem free raycing yesterday at
the ASC. The team started the 2nd stage of the race in Rolla,
Mo in 12th place, but had a tremendous leg on route to the
checkpoint in Joplin, MO, 190 miles away. The team spent the
night west of Tulsa, OK and is looking to pass through the
next checkpoint in Edmond, OK today. Press
release available here.
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July
12, 2003: Gemini qualifies for ASC!
Gemini
completed the final stage of qualification late yesterday
afternoon. The QSVT's car drove the required 140 miles on a
test track, proving its roadworthiness for ASC officials.
Gemini will be one of only two two-seater cars in the race
(the other being from Stanford), as two other two-seater cars
from Michigan and Georgia Tech failed to qualify for the race.
Follow Gemini's progress in our daily
journals and on the ASC
website.
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July
10, 2003: Gemini good to race in ASC!
Gemini passed
the final of its safety tests in scrutineering yesterday. The
team now only has to complete its qualifying time trial, which
determines the car's poll position, tomorrow in Burlington,
WIS.
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July
4 , 2003: Queen's Team Prepares for ASC 2003
Gemini, and the
Queen's team are preparing to leave for Chicago, IL for the
start of the American Solar Challenge 2003. Wish
us luck!
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June
24, 2003: Gemini in Toronto!
Gemini was
unveiled to an excited crowd of students, media and supporters
today at an event sponsored by Ontario Power Generation. The
even took place in High Park in Toronto, and luck media were
able to take a ride as a passenger in the car! Click HERE
for pictures!
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June
20, 2003: Gemini Unveiled!
It was a
beautiful summer day as Gemini, Queen's University's ninth
solar car was unveiled today at the University Club at
Queen's. The Hon. Peter Miliken, Associate Dean Moore of the
Faculty of Applied Science and Susan Hayes, Project Manager of
the QSVT spoke about the commitment of the students over the
past two years, and the upcoming races.
"The staff
and team have devoted countless hours, half of them in the
middle of the night", said Susan. "We are all very
excited about the American Solar Challenge in two weeks and
the World Solar Challenge in October."
Sponsors and the
supporters of the QSVT were in attendance were able to get up
close to the car and ask questions of the team members. For
pictures of the event, click HERE.
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America
Solar Challenge
"With students behind the wheels, the high-tech and high-efficiency
solar cars will cross the Great Plains, climb the Rocky Mountains, dart
over the great American desert, and dash across the finish line in
Southern California."
Winston
Solar Challenge
["...is an international education program designed for teaching high
school students the physics and technology associated with a road worthy
solar car." Check out their informative History
of Solar Car Racing.
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June 12,
2003: A big THANK YOU to some more supporters:
| Silver |
(Returning) |
| Bronze |
(Returning)
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| Green |
(Returning)
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| Friends |
(Returning) |
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May 16,
2003: Thanks to even more sponsors!
| Silver |
(Returning) |
| Bronze |
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| Friends |
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LINKS:
News
| About Queens | Vehicles
| Education | Sponsors
| Media | Contact
Queens
Joining the Team | Race
Journals | Races
| Donate
| Photographs | Links
| Forum
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ORGANISATION
A-Z
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CAR'S
NAME
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TEAM
NAME
|
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Aristotle
Uni of Thessaloniki, Helios
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Helios
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Faculty
of Engineering
|
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Arizona
Solar Racing Team - USA |
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Arizona
Solar Racing Team |
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Auburn
University |
Sol
of Auburn |
Sol
of Auburn |
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Aurora
Team, Australia |
Aurora |
Aurora
Vehicle Association |
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Bochum
Solar Car Team |
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Das
SolarCar der Fachhochschule |
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California
Poly S University |
SLO
Burn Sidewinder |
San
Luis Obispo |
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Clarkson
Uni Solar Car Team, USA |
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The
Solar Knights |
|
Delft
University - Holland |
NUNA
I & II
2003
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Dell
Winston School |
The
Hunter |
Solar
Car Challenge |
|
Desert
Rose, Northern Territory Uni |
FUJI
DESERT ROSE |
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Drexel
SunDragon Home Page |
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|
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École
de technologie supérieure Quebec |
Eclipse
V (5) |
Éclipse
Vehicular Solaire |
|
École
Polytechnique de Montréal
|
Esteban
|
|
|
Eko-Auto
Poland |
Eko-Auto |
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|
Electron
Analytic Corporation
|
Dark
Horse
|
EAC
Skunkworks
|
|
George
Washington University |
|
George
Washington Uni Solar Car |
|
Georgia
Institute of Technology |
Solar
Jackets |
Solar
Jackets |
|
Heliodet,
Germany |
Heliodet |
Heliodet,
Solar Car Team |
|
Helios
- Lille, France |
Hélios IV |
Hautes
Etudes d'Ingénieur |
|
Honda
Car Company |
Honda |
|
|
Illinois
State University
|
Surya,
Ratha, Mercury
|
Illinois
State University
Team
|
|
Iowa
State University
|
Fusion
|
Team
PrISUm
|
|
Jonasun
Japan |
Orbit |
Solar
Car Paviion |
|
Kansas
State University
|
Paragon
|
Solar
Car Racing Team
|
|
Los
Altos Academy of Engineering |
|
Los
Altos Solar Car Team |
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Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
|
Tesseract
|
MIT
|
|
McGill
University
Monteal, Canada
|
iSun
|
Team
iSun
|
|
McMaster
University
|
Phoenix
|
McMaster
Uni
Solar Car Project
|
|
Messiah
College
Grantham, Penns |
Genesis
II |
Genesis
II Solar Racing Team |
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Michigan
State University
|
|
Solar
Racing Team
|
|
Michigan
Technological University |
|
Solar
Car Team |
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Minnesota
S Uni-Mankato/Winona S Uni |
|
Minnesota
Solar
Car Team |
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North
Dakota State University
|
The
Double Deuce
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Sunsetters
- Solar Race Team
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Northwestern
University
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N'Uvation
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Northwestern
University
|
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Nuon
Solar Team, Netherlands |
Nuon
3 |
Het
Nuon Solar Team |
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Osaka
Sangyo University, Japan |
OSU
model S |
Solar
Car Team |
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Prairie
View A&M University
|
Solaris
|
Sun
Panthers
|
|
Principia
College
|
RA
6
|
Principia
College
Solar Car Team
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Purdue
University
|
SPOT
2
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Purdue
University
Solar Racing
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Queen's
University Canada
|
Radiance
Gemini
|
Queen's
Solar Vehicle Team
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Red
River College
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Red
River Raycer
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Red
River College Solar
Car Team
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Rice
University |
|
Rice
University |
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Rose-Hulman
Institute of Technology
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Rose-Hulman
Solar Car Team |
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Southern
Illinois Uni Edwardsville
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Cougar
Cruiser
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Southern
Illinois University
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South
Bank University, UK |
Mad
Dog |
South
Bank Mad Dog Team |
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South
Dakota School Mines & Tech |
Solar
Motion |
South
Dakota Solar Motion Team |
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Southern
Taiwan University Tech |
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Southern
Taiwan Solar Team |
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Stanford
University
|
Solstice
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Stanford
Solar Car Project
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Tamagawa
University - Japan |
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Tamagawa
Solar Challenge Project |
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Team
Futura, Italy |
FUTURA
2 |
Team
Futura |
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Team
SunLake - Japan |
Phaethon
model |
Team
SunLake TOYOBO |
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Texas
A&M University
|
Columbia
Sunraycer
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Texas
A&M
Motorsports Team
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The
Power of One
- Toronto |
Xof1 |
The
Xof1 solar car team |
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Tufts
University
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ANNE
E. B. II
|
Nerd
Girls
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University
of Alberta |
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University
of Alberta Team |
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University
of Arizona
|
Drifter
|
Solar
Racing Team
|
|
University
of Calgary
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|
UC
Calgary
Solar Car Team
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University
of California-Berkeley |
CalSol |
California
Calsol Team |
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University
of Kansas |
Solution,
CATalyst |
KSU
Solar Car Racing Team |
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University
of Kentucky
|
Gato
del Sol II
|
Solar
Car Team
|
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University
of Massachusetts |
Spirit
of Mass 413 |
Lowell
Solar Racing Team |
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University
of Michigan
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Momentum
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University
of Michigan
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|
University
of Minnesota
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Borealis
III
|
U
of M Solar Vehicle Project
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University
of Missouri
- Columbia
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Suntiger
VI
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The
Mizzou Solar Car Project
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University
of Missouri -
Rolla
|
Solar
Miner V
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Solar
Minor Car Team
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University
of North Dakota |
Subzero
3 |
Team
SubZero |
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University
of Ontario Institute of Tech |
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UOI
Solar Vehicle Team |
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Uni
of New South Wales SCR Team |
UNSW
Sunswift III |
New
South Wales SCR Team |
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University
of Patras, Hermes |
|
Solar
Car Team |
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University
of Pennsylvania
|
Keystone
|
Penn
Solar Racing
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University
of Queensland |
Sunshark |
Queensland
Solar Team |
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University
of South Australia |
Ned
KELLY |
SA
Solar Car Consortium |
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University
of Texas at Austin
|
Solar
Steer
|
Solar
Vehicles Team
|
|
University
of Texas at El Paso
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|
Solraycers
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University
of Toronto
|
Blue
Sky
|
Blue
Sky Solar Racing
|
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University
of Toulouse |
Heliotrope |
Heliotrope
Solar Car Team |
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University
of Utah
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|
Vehicle
Design Team
Utah
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University
of Virginia
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|
UVa
Solar Car Team
|
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University
of Waterloo
|
Midnight
Sun VIII
|
Midnight
Sun Solar Race Team
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|
University
of Western Ontario
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Sunstang
|
Sunstang
USP
Solar Car Team
|
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USP
Solar Car Team |
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USP
Solar Car Team |
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Western
Michigan University
|
Sunseeker
05
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W
Michigan Solar Car Team
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Yale
University
|
The
John Lee
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Team
Lux
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SOLAR CAR EVENTS
American
Solar Challenge American
Tour de Sol
American
World Solar Challenge - Formula Sun
Australian
World Solar Challenge
Canadian
Solar Discovery Challenge
Dream
Cup Solar Car Race Suzuka 2003 - Japan
Japanese
World Solar Car Rallye
North
American Solar Challenge
Phaethon
2004
Solar
Express - Solar Bike Race
Sunrayce
SunRace
2003 - Australia
World
Solar Car Rally - Japan
World Solar Rallye
- Japan
During
these competitions, students learn about solar panels, electric motors,
electronics, vehicle chassis, bodywork, aerodynamics, suspension, batteries
and how to solve practical problems during the design process, while working
as a team. It's demanding stuff and more fun that laying in bed
watching TV, where individuals may seek inspiration, but achieve very
little.
SOLAR
CAR PART FINDER
A
taste for adventure
Solar
Cola - a healthier alternative
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