20 years of bright design: Panasonic World Solar Challenge

Design, Event, infoecology, sustainable

The Panasonic World Solar Challenge is a biennial event based on a competitive field of solar cars crossing the Australian continent powered by nothing but the sun. Teams from 17 countries are required to research, build and design vehicles capable of completing the 3000km journey from tropical Darwin in the Northern Territory, to cosmopolitan port city Adelaide in South Australia. “But this really is not just about who is the fastest, it’s more about energy efficiency and management,” said race coordinator Chris Selwood

In 1982 the world’s first solar car, dubbed Quiet Achiever, was driven across Australia, from Perth to Sydney, in 20 days. At the wheel was Hans Tholstrup, the Danish-born adventurer who went on to create the Panasonic World Solar Challenge (PWSC). Hans had participated in motorsport for years, especially car rallies, but the oil crisis of the 1970s inspired him to continue to drive on the strength of sunshine. The first Challenge in 1987 saw 23 cars from seven countries compete, with General Motors’ Sunraycer winning the race in 44 hours, with an average speed of 67 km/h. Fast forward to 2005 and the winning vehicle ‘Nuna III’ had an average speed of 103 km/h, with a maximum recorded speed of 147 km/h. Aerodynamics and vehicle weight are obviously key components of a solar car’s speed and much advancement has been made in these areas.

Materials used to build solar cars have changed and evolved dramatically since the first Challenge. Composite materials used in the building of aeroplanes are heavily used these days. The vehicles now utilise materials often used in the space industry for construction of spacecraft and satellite systems, which have to be both lightweight and strong.

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Ilari Valbonesi @ October 22, 2007