It began as one man's adventure across Australia in a homemade solarcar more than a quarter of a century ago. Now, in 2009, that single intrepid and pioneering experiment has evolved into the world's leading solar vehicle expedition across a landscape that is as remarkable as the vehicles that traverse it.
History of the World Solar Challenge
Adventurer Hans Tholstrup drove a home built solarcar called the Quiet Achiever across Australia from west to east in 1982.
This pioneering adventure led to the inaugural World Solar Challenge in 1987, based on one simple concept: build a car capable of travelling from Darwin to Adelaide in the shortest possible time, using only sunlight as fuel.
The early principles described what must be achieved, rather than how requirements should be met. While safety regulations were enforced and limits were put on the size of the solar panel, the amount of energy that could be stored and the minimum weight of the driver, participants were free to seek innovative solutions to many of the automotive industry's problems.
The first challenge in 1987 saw twenty-three cars from seven countries depart Darwin. The runaway winner was General Motors' Sunraycer. That car, built by the combined talents of GM and its subsidiaries (notably Hughes Aircraft Corporation and Aerovironment) finished the 3,000km challenge in just 44 hours and averaged 66.9 km/h.
Sunraycer's success was an enormous influence on the development of the GM electric vehicles and became the centrepiece of GM's corporate profile at over 240 major exhibitions. The challenge has since become a testing bed for every facet of vehicle design from aerodynamics to tyres with participation in various forms from automobile giants like Ford, Honda, Toyota and Nissan.
A veteran of the first event, the Engineering College of Biel from Switzerland, won the 1990 race in 46.13hrs (av 65.18 Km/h). The team completely remodelled their car, Spirit of Biel utilising many of the principles that had made Sunraycer so successful in 1987. Honda also entered, and the first incarnation of Dream finished second 11 hours behind Biel. It is interesting to note that 20 years on Honda still use the "Dream" concept in its worldwide adverting.
The 1993 event saw the advent of the 'in-wheel motor’, which was employed by three of the 52 starters (Honda, Biel and Northern Territory University). Tyre manufacturers also took increased interest, constructing tyres of low rolling resistance especially for the event. Honda reversed the 1990 result finishing in just over 35 hours at an average speed of almost 85 km/h. The third incarnation of Spirit of Biel took second place, only three hours behind.
In 1996 the majority of starters finished the course and by 1999 finishing became an expectation. With the original challenge of crossing the country being well and truly met, and Nuna III recording an average in excess of 100km/h over the entire continent, event director Chris Selwood presented the world with a new concept: the "Challenge Class".
Entrants in this new category could have only 6 sq.m. of solar array (a 25% reduction). Drivers had to get in and out of the car unaided and adopt a more upright seating position forcing designers to adopt more practical attributes. Teams with older cars could still participate in the Adventure Class.
In 2001 the event saw the introduction of the "Demonstration Class" with practical (production) vehicles profiling their enhanced environmental credentials. This class covered the course in seven stages, allowing regional displays and unique networking opportunities.
From this, the 2009 Eco Challenge evolved.
The World Solar Challenge is an extreme endurance event and the premier forum for electric vehicle technology, while the Eco Challenge demonstrates the very practical application of many of the technologies that have emerged from the Solar Challenge. Both events provide a focus for the creative efforts of some of the best companies and engineering schools in the world and continue to attract worldwide media attention, books, documentaries and even a feature film.