Aurora Solar Car
Encyclopedia
The Aurora Vehicle Association is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to achieving and demonstrating extreme efficiency in transport. Aurora was started in 1980 by building high-fuel-efficiency petrol-powered vehicles. Between 1983 and 1985 Aurora held the world record for fuel economy at 1808 km per litre (5107 miles per imperial gallon). In 1987, when Hans Tholstrup devised the first trans-Australian World Solar Challenge
, Aurora turned to solar car development and has been a contestant in every World Solar Challenge
and has achieved 1 win, 4 second places, 1 third place, 1 fifth place, 1 sixth place and 1 crash.
Aurora is a non-profit group which sustained by corporate sponsorship from companies such as CSIRO, Mazda
and Sumitomo (amongst many others).
At various points in its history, Aurora has also been assisted by some of Australia's leading universities such as UNSW, University of Technology, Sydney
, University of Melbourne
and RMIT.
Ford Model "S" - 1987
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Christine - 1990
|+ Christine
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Aurora Q1 - 1993
|+ Aurora Q1
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Southern Aurora - 2000
Aurora 101 - 1996
|+ Aurora 101 4th Generation
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The current flagship is known as Aurora 101. The car weighs 130 kg without batteries or a driver and has attained speeds of 150 km/h. It is built around a triangular carbon fibre frame (with a circular cross section) with a single driven front wheel and two rear wheels. The car's body is attached to the frame at three points through springs and shock absorbers.
The car is extremely aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient
of 0.1 and a frontal area of 0.76 square metres. The motor, which was developed as a joint effort between CSIRO, the University of Technology, Sydney
and Aurora, weighs 15 kg and has a continuous operating power of 1.8 kW.
The car's power comes from its solar array, which covers a majority of the upper half of its body. There is a total of 5.98 square metres of silicon solar cells, which provide up to 1250 W.
In full racing trim (as per the World Solar Challenge
rules) the car weighs 240 kg with its driver.
Aurora 101 finished second in the 2003 WSC race
Aurora 101 finished 3rd in the 2007 WSC race.
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
, Aurora turned to solar car development and has been a contestant in every World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
and has achieved 1 win, 4 second places, 1 third place, 1 fifth place, 1 sixth place and 1 crash.
Aurora is a non-profit group which sustained by corporate sponsorship from companies such as CSIRO, Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
and Sumitomo (amongst many others).
At various points in its history, Aurora has also been assisted by some of Australia's leading universities such as UNSW, University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
, University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
and RMIT.
Cars
Aurora have constructed several solar-powered cars and are now in their 4th generation of car designs.Ford Model "S" - 1987
|->
|-
|Overall length
|Overall width
|Weight
|Top speed
|Drag coefficient
|Solar Panel
Christine - 1990
|->
|-
|Overall length
|Overall width
|Weight
|Top speed
|Drag coefficient
|Solar Panel
Aurora Q1 - 1993
|->
|-
|Overall length
|Overall width
|Weight
|Top speed
|Drag coefficient
|Solar Panel
Southern Aurora - 2000
| Specifications |- |Overall length |
>- | >- | >- | >- | >- |
Aurora 101 - 1996
|->
|-
|Overall length
|Overall width
|Weight
|Top speed
|Drag coefficient
|Solar Panel
The current flagship is known as Aurora 101. The car weighs 130 kg without batteries or a driver and has attained speeds of 150 km/h. It is built around a triangular carbon fibre frame (with a circular cross section) with a single driven front wheel and two rear wheels. The car's body is attached to the frame at three points through springs and shock absorbers.
The car is extremely aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
of 0.1 and a frontal area of 0.76 square metres. The motor, which was developed as a joint effort between CSIRO, the University of Technology, Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
The University of Technology Sydney is a university in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The university was founded in its current form in 1981, although its origins trace back to the 1870s. UTS is notable for its central location as the only university with its main campuses within the Sydney CBD...
and Aurora, weighs 15 kg and has a continuous operating power of 1.8 kW.
The car's power comes from its solar array, which covers a majority of the upper half of its body. There is a total of 5.98 square metres of silicon solar cells, which provide up to 1250 W.
In full racing trim (as per the World Solar Challenge
World Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge is a solar-powered car race which covers through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide.The race attracts teams from around the world, most of which are fielded by universities or corporations although some are fielded by high schools...
rules) the car weighs 240 kg with its driver.
Aurora 101 finished second in the 2003 WSC race
Aurora 101 finished 3rd in the 2007 WSC race.
- Fastest lap at Hidden Valley Racetrack, Darwin Average speed 91.83 km/h.
- Fastest lap at Suzuka Racetrack Average spped 93.08 km/h.
- Distance covered in 24 hours non-stop record 1590 km.
World Records
| Year | Record |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Shell Mileage Marathon. 2,948 mpg |
| 1984 | Shell Mileage Marathon. 3,133 mpg |
| 1985 | Shell Mileage Marathon. 5,107 mpg |
| 1994 | Trans-Continental Solar Challenge. Perth to Sydney, 4,000 km, 8.5 days |
| 1998 | Citipower SunRace. Adelaide to Sydney. 2,080 km. Average 100.9 km/h over 100 km |
| 2000 | Sydney to Melbourne Day Record: 877 km |
| 2002 | 13,054 km in 24 days - Long distance solar car journey. |
| 2002 | 780 km Longest day distance on solar energy |
| 2002 | 111.2 km/h Highest on-road average speed for 100 km |
| 2002 | 16,660 km (since 1993) Longest distance solar car driver |
| 2002 | 131.0 km/h for 100 miles (est. 1994 Biel 121.6 km/h) |
| 2002 | 131.5 km/h for One Hour (est. 1994 Biel 123.0 km/h) |
| 2002 | 132.1 km/h for 100 km (est. 1994 Biel 124.3 km/h) |
| 2002 | 86.2 km/h on solar energy alone (est. 1994 Biel 82.6 km/h) |
| 2004 | 1255 km in 24 hours |
| 2005 | 1701 km in 24 hours |
| 2007 | World record distance for a battery powered car, in 'Christine', 811 km at 53.05 km/hr |
Aurora in WSC
| Event Year | Placing | Average Speed | Qualification Grid Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 2nd Place | 44.48 km/h | 4 |
| 1990 | 6th Place, 1st in Class (Lead Acid) | 50.20 km/h | 13 |
| 1993 | 5th Place | 70.08 km/h | 17 |
| 1996 | Did not finish | - | 9 |
| 1999 | 1st Place | 72.96 km/h | 7 |
| 2001 | 2nd Place | 90.26 km/h | 5 |
| 2003 | 2nd Place | 91.90 km/h | 1 |
| 2005 | 2nd Place | 92.03 km/h | 1 |
| 2007 | 3rd Overall, 1st in Class | 85.00 km/h | 3 |
| 2009 | 6th Place | 70.82 km/h | 1 |