The University of Kentucky’s solar car, competitor in the Great American Solar Car Challenge, is powered only by the sun’s renewable energy without releasing any emissions. Their advanced research is helping automobiles of the future and the progression of implementing solar technology to street legal cars. 2004 marked the start of development on Gato del Sol II.

The team decided to shift to a rigid fiberglass/polystyrene composite shell with a more aerodynamic foil significantly decreased the respective power consumption. A lighter chassis and shell contributed to a 50% reduction in weight. Electrically, substituting nickel metal hydride for lead acid batteries, and mono-silicon for poly- provided for a huge boost in power. The new and improved team vehicle made its first showing at the 2005 North American Solar Challenge.

Work and improvements to Gato del Sol II continued through the end of 2007 when a revision of the race rules were released for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge. These changes required a remarkable redesign of the car. A new stronger chassis, higher capacity lithium polymer batteries, more reliable maximum power point trackers, and 50% new shell marked the renaming of the car from Gato del Sol II to III.

Gato del Sol III was the team’s first finisher of the North American Solar Challenge in 2008. The momentum gained during that race propelled the team to adding efficient and reliable improvements during the following year. During the national Formula Sun Grand Prix 2009, their car outlasted the competition to take second place. Design is now completed, and construction underway on Gato del Sol IV. This car will be one of the most efficient solar cars in the country, pushing the brink of the technology even faster. With a theoretical drag coefficient of 0.09, the aerodynamics will be the marked improvement. This foil design, incorporating a rear-positioned driver, will allow the car to operate at high speeds on nearly the same power as earlier predecessors. The powerplant of over 2000, 28%+ efficient GaAs Solar Cells will help the car derive more energy during long days of racing. Lastly, an increase in the capacity of the battery pack, a 50lb reduction in weight, and more efficient tires will all add up to a blaze of solar blue. This car will debut at the 2010 American Solar Challenge, to be followed with a trip to the 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia. Aside from designing and building cars, the team members actively promote the technology that they develop, and give presentations to K-12 students, peaking their interest in science, math and engineering.

This post is tagged Kentucky Solar Car, Solar Car, Solar Challenge