A Dutch University Has Just Won Australia’s Solar Car Race
A Dutch University Has Just Won Australia’s Solar Car Race
2 minute read
The Nuon Solar Team of the Netherlands celebrates after winning the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge at Victoria Square on Oct. 22, 2015 in Adelaide, AustraliaMorne de Klerk—Getty Images
These Amazing Solar-Powered Cars Just Raced Across An Entire Country
The Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team near Glendambo as the team races on Day 4 of the 2015 World Solar Challenge on Oct. 21, 2015. 45 Solar cars from 25 different countries participated in the 3,000 km race from Darwin to Adelaide, AustraliaGeert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesThe University of Michigan Solar Car Team car competes during the fourth day of the 2015 World Solar Challenge in Coober Pedy, Australia, on Oct. 21, 2015. Geert Vanden Wijngaert—APPunch Powertrain Solar Team shows team members posing above their cars after the qualification lap at Hidden Valley race track in Darwin on Oct. 18, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solar Electric Vehicle Team car competes during the qualification lap on Oct. 17, 2015. Geert Vanden Wijngaert—APThe SunSPEC car from Singapore competes during the qualification lap on Oct. 17, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—APSolar Team Eindhoven's Stella Lux during track testing on Oct. 15, 2015.Brendon Thorne—The World Solar/EPAChris Ahearn is shaded with an Australian flag as he prepares to drive Arrow1-GT from Clenergy TeamArrow Australia in the challenger class track testing on Oct. 17, 2015.Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarTokai Challenger of Tokai University Japan entering the control stop at Coober Pedy on Day Four, Oct. 21, 2015.Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarCrew members of the Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team standing as the car batteries are charged at Coober Pedy on Oct. 21, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesMembers from Tokai Challenger of Tokai University Japan catch the last of the sun to charge at the end of racing in the Challenger Class on Oct. 20, 2015 outside of Coober Pedy, Australia. Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarA member from Red One of Solar Team Twente Netherlands rests as he speaks on the phone at the end of racing in the Challenger Class on Oct. 20, 2015.Mark Kolbe—Getty Images for The World SolarThe Belgian Punch Powertrain Solar Team car on Oct. 20, 2015.Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of the Stanford Solar Car Project team approach the finish line at Victoria Square, Adelaide, Australia on Oct. 22, 2015.Morne de Klerk—Getty Images for World Solar ChaCar of the Dutch team Nuon Solar Team crosses the finish line to win the 2015 World Solar Challenge, in Adelaide on Oct. 22, 2015.Brenton Edwards—AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of the Stanford Solar Car Project team celebrate after finishing the race at Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia on Oct. 22, 2015. Morne de Klerk—Getty Images for World Solar ChaDutch university Delft's Nuon Solar Team celebrates their victory on Oct. 22, 2015.Hollandse Hoogte—Corbis
The 1,800-mile journey from Darwin to Adelaide cuts through the center of Australia, traversing deserts where the sun can bake asphalt to well over 100°F. While these conditions make travel perilous for most drivers, they were perfect for competitors in the nation’s solar car race, of which the team from Delft University in the Netherlands won its second victory in a row on Thursday.
Held once every two years, the World Solar Challenge is a friendly testing ground for cars that run on nothing but the sun. The hope is that one day the technology will find its way into consumer products, the BBC reports.
This year more than 40 teams from universities and schools around the world set off from State Square in Darwin on Oct. 18. Five days later, after 37 hours, 56 minutes and 12 seconds of driving, Delft’s Nuon Solar Team’s car Nuna8 was the first to cross the finish line at Victoria Square in Adelaide.
It was a tight race. Nuon’s countrymen from Solar Team Twente and its car Red One joined the revelry just eight minutes later. Japan’s Tokai University took third.
How do you celebrate after five days in the scorching Australian Outback? The orange-clad students jumped in the square’s fountain, naturally.
