The solar array is replaced over driver Laura Hughes after essentail repairs at Marla on the South Australian border. Credit: CUER
Cambridge’s entry into a race for solar cars across Australia has ended in disappointment.
The race is supposed to highlight the viability of solar technology, but the University’s car finds itself at the back of the field after BATTERY FAILURE, having traveled hundreds of kilometers ON A TRAILER.
The Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER) team, consisting of 17 students, began building its Endeavour car two years ago in preparation for the annual World Solar Challenge.
The car weighs only 160 kilograms and reached a high-speed of over 100 km/h during the race using less power than a hairdryer.
The week began hopefully with the team’s blog predicting ‘great things’. The Sydney Morning Herald described Cambridge’s Endeavour as “among the favorites for the 3000 kilometer race despite spending less than many of their competitors and The Cambridge Student claimed CUER were ‘Gunning for glory’.”
The optimism seemed justified as the Endeavour’s competitors experienced difficulties. The car representing the University of Michigan lost four tires and the Unicore team from Belgium saw their vehicle destroyed as a gust of wind blew them into a tree.
But by the third day of the race problems with the car’s battery pack had set it. The team’s pre-race aim of a top 10 finish in the 35 strong race was lowered, as their Twitter feed informed its followers: ‘It looks like our hopes of completing the race are slipping away’
The news on day four was no better: “the battery cells are DYING OFF one by one, time is running thin, almost 1500km stretch out ahead of us.”
As the race winners from Tokai University in Japan crossed the finishing line in Adelaide last Thursday lunchtime, Cambridge’s team were hundreds of miles behind, the Endeavour being ferried through the outback on a trailer.
Also at the back of the pack were the Canadian McMaster team who were forced to trailer their car after it CAUGHT FIRE, burnt out its motor and had one of its wheels collapse.
The CUER blog defended their car’s performance: “We may not be in the position that we wanted to be and that we are capable of being in, but we have covered almost 1000 kilometers under solar power alone and this is a huge achievement.
“All members of the team have worked tirelessly to produce a car that runs as it was designed to do and this is exactly what it does, it is parts that are letting us down and not people,” it continued.
Huw Roberts, a 2nd year Nat-Sci who rows for GB World Class Start program and founded the Jesus College ‘Renewable Energy Discussion Group’ said he was disappointed: ‘”I haven’t done the maths but I reckon I could row AROUND Australia faster than that!”
He added: “The fact that it requires a polluting petrol-fuelled trailer to follow it and can obviously only work in a hot country makes the whole thing ridiculous. They reckon we’ll all be driving these things in a few years. Jog on!”
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There are also trains to Cambridge which take 1hr and other parts of East Anglia and the UK. Hector Vehicle
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Thanks for your superior effort
does sound ridiculous
how do i join the Jesus College ‘Renewable Energy Discussion Group?
I liked the article – informative, entertaining, and opposing points of view. Outcomes like those reported are not surprising, given the nature of the event, regulations, and such. The event originates from what was basically a stunt crossing of Australia by an adventurer. The solar challenges remain a stunt and must remain that because of and despite of the way the event is structured, and also due to such real-world physics that loom large in governing how the cars will perform.. A good understanding of those considerable constraints ought to leave a person with no doubt as to the compromises that need to be made – compromises that ought to be completely unacceptable for vehicles that supposedly showcase advanced automotive practice.
The overall winner, Tokai University's team, had a driver with superb abilities, which may have helped that team avoid some of the on-road mishaps that plagued others. Basically, though, the event seems structured to ensure failure, and I think those who unquestioningly compete in or encourage this sort of competition must give little introspection to the reasonableness of what's being done. There are very understandable reasons cars like CUER's, or even UofMI's, which faltered on a "hill" due to inadequate power, perform as they do. These aren't rational efforts at road vehicles that perform with any degree of assurity, but ones predicated on the notion that sustained long distance road travel in such solar cars is rash. The effortlessness at which even the best of these cars may seem to cross a continent is basically illusory. That's true even of the vehicle of the Power of One team that I've been part of. The xof1 solar car drove to the arctic, drove at night, drove without escort vehicles on occassion, and on harsh roads and in harsh weather – accruing more miles than all the World Solar Challenges that have ever been run, and doing this – I think over 18,000 miles in about 13 months -while only recharging from the solar panels on the vehicle.. On the surface that seems incredible, which it was, but that doesn't prove solar cars are capable cars in the sense that most people expect their road car to be. The focus on putting solar cells on the vehicle is myopic, yet race regulations and the nature of the competitions ensure that's what's done.
-brian
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Tom {San Francisco}
I have done the maths, and if you want to do it in say 6 days, it's a constant sub-8 second 500m split. Row on