2023 World Solar Challenge Concludes

[INTJohn]

What it is:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Solar_Challenge
This years winner: Team Belgium
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2023/10/26/belgians-win-solar-challenge-the-world-solar-car-championships/#:~:text=It's%20yet%20again%20a%20Belgian,the%20previous%20edition%20in%202019.

Me Bragging: University of Michigan entrant finished 4th vs the global competition.
https://news.umich.edu/us-solar-car-places-fourth-in-global-competition/#
INTJohn

 

[INTJohn]

It’s not about living in a hybrid electric type vehicle but hey continued research gotta start somewhere so I’ve posted this thread here because I think it’s the best fit.

Thanx
INTJohn

 

[wayne49]

That current solar racer is narrower than the earlier ones that looked like massive pumpkin seeds. Shows how much solar systems have gotten more efficient.

 

[rruff]

It's amazing to me how much the shapes have varied. The new Belgian rig looks nothing like the old one they had.

Versus their old one which also won the championship. Looks like a catamaran:

 

[eDJ_]

The earlier car ^^^ reminds me of Carlo Mollino's 1955 "Bisiluro" which was an asymmeteic layout. The conclusion of the article linked to points to other examples the Bisiluro's design has carried over to as it endures.

Bisiluro

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[Gr8ful]

Thanks John for posting this as I've kept up on it for years & rooted for U of M also. I'd like to see the results of adding pedals to how much faster & more range it would add, in the off season of course.

 

[rruff]

The Michigan car looks very similar to the Belgian car this year.

 

[rruff]

Human powered record bikes look like this ... and can go 90 mph.

This is what they look like with the fairing off...

 

[rruff]

The Aptera is a mostly solar powered car that is light and aero enough to make solar charging practical. They should be available soon.

https://aptera.us/launch-edition-is-here/

 

[INTJohn]

The Aptera is a mostly solar powered car that is light and aero enough to make solar charging practical. The should be available soon.

https://aptera.us/launch-edition-is-here/

With a cute blond driving. Not that I zoomed in and looked. Just a lucky guess…….
intjonny

 

[user 22017]

Do any of you remember the plane Solar Impulse 2? The flight was popular on the internet in 2016.

In the wee hours of July 26, 2016, Solar Impulse 2 landed in Abu Dhabi to eager crowds and cameras. After 14 months of travel and 550 hours in the air, the plane had accomplished what many had deemed impossible: traveling 25,000 miles around the world—over four continents, two oceans and three seas—without a drop of liquid fuel. The sun's vibrant rays supplied the craft's only power. ~ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/inside-first-solar-powered-flight-around-world-180968000/

A recent article about Solar Impulse 2: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/...solar-impulse-climate-scn-spc-intl/index.html