WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE

In 1908 the first car to drive from Adelaide to Darwin, took 51 days averaging eighty kilometres an hour.

Many of these strange looking contraptions travel much faster . . . highlighting the potential for this sort of technology.

Later this month forty three teams from 12 countries, will take part in the World Solar Challenge. They'll leave the Darwin Esplanade on November the 18th, with the first cars expected to arrive in Adelaide three to four days later.

Despite their alien appearance . . . this is not an invasion . . . more a celebration of creativity and innovation. These enthusiasts are committed to eliminating our wasteful use of fossil fuels . . . and they go to enormous lengths to prove a point.

Like the Honda team five years ago which carried two people . . . with the passenger getting a rear view perspective of this Outback highway for more than three days.

Two years ago . . . Postcards hopped on board Ned 26 . . . a combination of solar cells and carbon fibre . . . in which the SA Solar Car Consortium created a world first - two occupants facing the same way.

“Well it's very smooth and relaxing in here. In fact, if I was in the race I think I'd find it difficult to stay awake. As a passenger it's my job to record the solar radiation, the speed we're doing the cabin temperature and the battery energy we're generating. Now there's quite a bit of testing that goes into this to work out race logistics and things like that”

This year Ned will be accompanied by Kelly . . . another entrant from the Solar Car Consortium . . . in an event which has led to major innovation in car design.

“So we've got university students who are not mechanics coming up with new ideas that even the car industry sort of says, wow maybe we should get into that. Honda showed that with a ninety kilometres average speed from Darwin to Adelaide on “just sunshine” . . . and Honda has now embarked on new products from those engineers who went to a race . . . the race for the future”.

At the completion of the race, the cars will be on display at the Torrens Parade Ground on November the 24th and 25th.

The event will be followed by the International Solar Energy Society World Congress at the Convention centre. And on Wednesday the 28th the public can take part with demonstrations of solar energy technology including a trip down the Torrens in a solar-powered boat.

If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au