September 28, 2005 Source: University of Calgary:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/sept05/soleon_day4.html SOLEON DAY 4: Race ends for some, gets interesting for U of C team Panasonic World Solar Challenge A number of solar-powered cars have stopped racing in the Panasonic World Solar Challenge, but the University of Calgary entry is picking up speed. Soleon moved up two positions to 11th place overall and is now first among vehicles in the production class. With about 1,000 kilometres left in the race, it trails both the Belgian entry, Umicar, and a Dutch vehicle from the University of Twente, Solutra, by about an hour – still within striking distance. Nuna 3, built by a Dutch team from the Technical University of Delft, took the checkered flag in Adelaide on Wednesday at 1:41 pm and will watch from the sidelines as the rest of the cars finish. It averaged almost 103 km/h during the race and broke its own record from 2003. "To win one of these events is quite an achievement, but three in a row is amazing – they are to be congratulated," said Colby Bell, the U of C project manager, mechanical manager and one of the drivers. "This is a great example of what solar power is capable of." Nuna 3 is in the Open-class category, which permits the use of special materials such as high-priced gallium arsenide solar cells, while Soleon is a Production-class vehicle, employing materials purchased off the shelf. The 3,021-kilometre distance from Darwin to Adelaide has proven to be too much for two other teams, which have withdrawn: the Helio Det entry from Germany could not make two checkpoints in the required time, and the Southern Aurora team from Victoria, Australia has pulled out due to a motor failure. There are 19 vehicles now left in the field. The U of C, meanwhile, started the day 50 minutes behind Kelly, a Production-class vehicle built by a South Australian team, but gained ground while maintaining a steady charge under partly cloudy skies. U of C finished the day about 20 minutes ahead of Kelly – but not without some drama. "We passed them, then we got a flat tire that we had to stop and fix and they passed us," said Kyle Rebryna, one of the two principal drivers. "They weren't able to maintain their speed on the hills, so we caught up to them again and passed them again." Kelly is the only two-seater in the race; it is built by students from Training and Further Education – South Australia (TAFE-SA). The U of C team spent the night at Cadney Homestead, South Australia about 535 kilometres south of Alice Springs. The next control point is at Glendambo, about 400 kilometres away. If Soleon can continue to average 500 kilometres a day, the team will be at the finish line in Adelaide by end of day Friday. The University of Western Ontario, the only other Canadian team in the race, has been forced to trailer its car a number of times and is near the back of the pack. The race for second place is being fought between the University of Michigan, winners of July's North American Solar Challenge, a team from Victoria, Australia, and the Japanese entry Sky Ace Tiga. For more information on Soleon's progress, visit www.calgarysolarteam.ca/.
For more information on the Panasonic World Solar Car Challenge, visit www.wsc.org.au/. For more information, or to arrange an interview with one of the U of C Solar Car Team Members, contact: Media Relations Advisor Greg Harris, who is traveling with the team, at (403) 997-0107 (satellite phone). To speak to a media advisor in Calgary, contact Grady Semmens, (403) 220-7722 The University of Calgary, the Schulich School of Engineering and the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy are jointly supporting U of C participation in the World Solar Challenge. The U of C is one of North America's leading centres for energy studies, including research on responsible and environmentally sound methods – such as solar power – that will ensure a sustainable energy supply. The Schulich School of Engineering is the fastest-growing engineering faculty in Canada. The School is committed to being First Choice in Canada for accredited engineering education, for internationally acclaimed research, and for service to the community and the engineering profession. The Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy is a unique, collaborative institute that develops new methods and technology to unlock energy resources and protect the environment for future generations. __________ Colleen Turner
Associate Director, Communications
University of Calgary
220-2920 (w)
650-1153 (cell)
220-1312 (fax)
colleen.turner@ucalgary.ca
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