In 1997, UniSA, Seaton High School, Fremont-Elizabeth City High and Annesley College formed the South Australian Solar Car Consortium. The aim of the Consortium was to help students design, build and race solar cars in the World Solar Challenge.

Our first car, Ned, debuted in the 1999 World Solar Challenge, where it came first in its class and 14th overall.

South Australian Solar Car Consortium - Ned

In 2000, Regency TAFE joined the Consortium, when they started work on their second car, Kelly. Kelly was first raced in the 2001 World Solar Challenge.

Ned has retired from racing, and is now touring South Australian schools as part of a Sustainable Energy programme being run by The Investigator Science and Technology Centre.

Ned racing

Ned and Kelly were made in the same moulds, and so have the basic design. Kelly, however, incorporates several improvements over Ned.  Kelly is being prepared for the 2005 World Solar Challenge.

UniSA are continuing their work with ultra-efficient vehicles by developing a low-mass electric commuter car powered entirely by renewable energy.  The aim of the Solar Commuter project is to design, develop, build and demonstrate a low-mass electric commuter car powered entirely by non-polluting renewable energy.

Solar powered racing cars are able to travel 700km in a day at speeds greater than 90km/h, yet we still drive around town in heavy, noisy, polluting cars. Over 90% of Australian commuter trips have only one person in a car. Furthermore, the car typically weighs 10-30 times the weight of the person being transported. Vast amounts of energy are required to propel these massive machines, and the conversion of fossil fuels into mobility results in 16% of Australia's CO2 emissions.

• Timelines

For more detailed  information please contact peter.pudney@unisa.edu.au

Ned canopy raised

CONTACTS

Associate Professor Wasim Saman
Executive Director

ph. (08) 8302 3008  fax (08) 8302 3380

South Australian Solar Car Consortium
Mawson Lakes Campus
Mawson Lakes Boulevard
Mawson Lakes SA 5095

ph. (08) 8302 3270  fax (08) 8302 3380

South Australia Solar Car Consortium

email: wasim.saman@unisa.edu.au

PLEASE NOTE: If calling from overseas please dial +618 before the number, and omit the (08)

Ned charging

The content of this website is copyright © and design copyright 1991 and 2006 Electrick Publications and NJK. All rights reserved. The bluebird logo and name Bluebird and Blue Max are trademarks.  The BE2 and BE3 vehicle shape and configuration are registered designs ®.  All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.  Max Energy Limited is an environmental educational charity.