2011 World Solar Challenge
Sunswift raced IVy again in the 2011 World Solar Challenge. She was improved with a new wheel motor, completely new top-shell with new silicon array and improved brakes and electrical systems. IVy and the team placed 6th overall, just in front of our mates Aurora. The team also took out 1st place in the production [...]
Day 2.
We all got up well before the sun to set up the array (or take pics in my case). It was a bit cloudy in the morning and we had quite a bit of smoke haze after getting away. Not long on the road and we came across solar car Apollo that had lost it [...]
Last rays
A good run today. An 8:30am start from Darwin in grid position 4. Passed several cars with mechanical issues but Sunswift had some too which were fixed after the first control stop. We ended the day in about 7th position in the fleet. After a great dinner the team are working on various maintenance issues. [...]
G’Day from Kulgera!
Today was a big Mock Race Day for the Sunswift fleet. We travelled one of the most gruelling stretches of the WSC, starting in Glendambo in SA and finishing at the NT border. The car was on the road by 8 AM as planned. With all systems functioning seamlessly, the fleet drivers perfected their radio [...]
Carbon Update
This week carbon building phase officially commenced. As the team decided to purchase a new solar array for this year’s race we thought it prudent to also build a new top shell enabling two functioning arrays/top-shells, one for the race, one for training and public displays. Some minor adjustments have been made to the new [...]
Work Begins in Earnest at the Workshop!
With 2011 World Solar Challenge fast approaching work in the workshop has intensified. Today new team members started preparing the workshop for the massive amounts of composites work we will have to do in order to get a new top shell and array built in time for The Race this October. Today was the first [...]
Etienne Le Sueur – Electrical Team Leader
Etienne is currently leading the electrical sub-team, which works on all electrical aspects of the teams car. These include: Drive-train (Motor controller, motor, etc) Telemetry and sensors Battery and associated monitoring system Wireless telemetry communication Driver communication system Solar array and array optimisation Etienne recently completed his Masters at UNSW in Computer Science. His thesis [...]
Sunswift IV
Sunswift IV 2009 – present Background Ivy was built in 2009 for the 2009 WSC. She was the 3rd vehicle that Sunswift had ever designed and built from scratch – although many successful elements from previous cars were retained in Ivy’s design. Achievements 6th overall in the 2011 World Solar Challenge, 1st in Production Class. 4th overall in [...]
Our Sponsors
GOLD The Faculty of Engineering of the University of NSW provides the UNSW SRT with a monetary grant, use of a range of facilities as well as valuable advice and support. The UNSW SRT helps promote the faculty at events such as UNSW Open Day and Sunsprint (model solar car challenge). NICTA is Australia’s Information [...]
Some more information & FAQ about the World Record
Sunswift has broken the Guiness World Land-Speed record for a solar-powered vehicle. The record was set at 88km/h by Sunswift IVy on the 7th of January, 2011. The previous record was set by General Motors Sunraycer, which travelled 78km/h on roughly 1500 Watts. During the day that Sunwift IVy set the record, conditions were mostly [...]
