SunStang Solar Car Project
Encyclopedia
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, student-run mega project at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
(UWO) that participates in international solar races
Solar car racing
Solar car racing refers to competitive races of electric vehicles which are powered by solar energy obtained from solar panels on the surface of the car . The first solar car race was the Tour de Sol in 1985 which led to several similar races in Europe, USA and Australia...
, most notably 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...
and the North American Solar Challenge. The team consists of undergraduate and graduate students from faculties as varied as Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, and the Ivey School of Business. Funding comes from industry sponsors and personal donations, as well as support from UWO. It is the largest budgeted mega-project of the Faculty of Engineering at UWO, close to $300,000 in 2007, including race expenditures. SunStang's directive is to foster a team environment where, through active participation and mentorship, students are able to learn and apply skills useful not only for the construction of a solar vehicle, but also for the benefit of personal and mutual growth and development.
Team History and Accomplishments
The project was conceived in 1991 as an honors research project and within two years saw its first competition in the 1993 World Solar Challenge. 1994-95 brought forth a new challenge: the Sunrayce95. SunStang designed and built a completely new car to tackle this challenge. The 1996 Canadian Solar Discovery Challenge was not only a first for Canadian solar car racing, but also marked SunStang’s first victory. Encouraged by this success, SunStang set out to create a car for the 1996 World Solar Challenge. The team finished 2nd of the North American teams and 12th over all in the world out of 40 competitors; SunStang's greatest accomplishment to date. In 1997 SunStang was awarded the Spirit Award for the Sunrayce competition. Since then, SunStang has participated in the 2005 and 2007 World Solar Challenges.SunStang's Participation in Solar Rayces:
| Year | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Panasonic World Solar Challenge | Australia |
| 2005 | Panasonic World Solar Challenge | Australia |
| 2004 | Formula Sun Grand Prix | Topeka, Kansas |
| 2003 | American Solar Challenge | Chicago |
| 1997 | SunRayce | Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
| 1996 | World Solar Challenge | Australia |
| 1995 | SunRayce | Indianapolis |
| 1993 | World Solar Challenge | Australia |
SunStang '96
SunStang '05
SunStang '07
World Solar Challenge 2007
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, the solar vehicle struck a large rock situated on the road at a speed of 65 km/h. The resulting accident cause the vehicle to spin violently into the ditch. The driver was unharmed. Severe damage was inflicted on the rear suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
as the in-wheel electric motor
Brushless DC electric motor
Brushless DC motors also known as electronically commutated motors are electric motors powered by direct-current electricity and having electronic commutation systems, rather than mechanical commutators and brushes...
was completely fractured from the chassis. The upper and lower shells of the vehicle body also sustained moderate damage. After receiving help from a nearby cattle rancher in the form of two steel plates, the team was able to sandwich the rear suspension back onto the carbon
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
-foam-core chassis. The SunStang was back on the road within 5 hours. However, continuing concerns over safety of the in-wheel motor precluded completion of the race without SunStang being hauled in a trailer. After the race was called off due to severe weather storms, the team made it to the finish line at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on October 28, 2007.
Sunstang '09
The sunstang team is going to be switching their focus. They will no longer be creating a competitive solar race vehicle but will be attempting to create a practical solar assisted electric vehicle, making the next logical step from race vehicle towards a production ready model.See also
- List of solar car teams
- World Solar ChallengeWorld Solar ChallengeThe 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...
- North American Solar Challenge
- University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...