When South Australia’s own solar car, NED,
powers away in what is set to be a blistering eight day event, the Australian Greenhouse
Office SunRace 21.C, it will be the ingenuity of bright young minds that will be put to
the test.
Well wishers will have an opportunity to see NED and learn a little about the
technology behind the car at UniSA’s Mawson Lakes Campus on Thursday February 8
when NED’s technical team will run the solar car through its paces before the big
race.
The race from Adelaide to Sydney (February 11 to 18) will cover some 2300 km and
the lightweight solar cars will reach speeds up to 100 km per hour.
Ned is one of the most successful solar cars built in SA, winning first place in its
class in the 1999 Solar Challenge and coming 14th overall.
Not bad for a vehicle built by the SA Solar Car Consortium, a collaboration between
UniSA, Fremont Elizabeth High School, Seaton High School and more recently Regency TAFE.
Research leader and Director of the consortium, UniSA’s Professor
Wasim Saman, says the performance of the vehicle has been excellent.
"Considering we don’t have the backing of a major international sponsor and
that our real goal has been the educational opportunity building a solar car provides for
a wide range of school and university students – NED has performed very well indeed.
‘We expect that record to be improved at SunRace21C, because of improvements we
have made to the vehicle.
The improvements made to NED for SunRace21.C include a new steering system, improved
weight distribution, improved solar array wiring and better ventilation.
Professor Saman says the research and development process in building a solar car gives
young students an understanding of what is possible.
"Solar car racing has been a catalyst for the research done into photovoltaic
cells, advanced batteries, ultra efficient motors, lightweights aerodynamic body design
and efficient energy management systems."
"We are encouraging the next generation to ask questions, to imagine alternative
possibilities to fossil fuels and to understand that they can play a leading role in
developing a future that embraces sustainable energy sources," he said.
Media contact: Michèle Nardelli (08) 8302 0966, 041 8823673
NEWS EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Arrangements to film or photograph NED and talk to some of
the crew who will be racing the SA car can be made by telephoning Peter Murphy Technical
Coordinator and team leader the race on 8302 3015 or on 040 909 1039 on Thursday.
