A car which could revolutionise the future of travel has been unveiled by a group of students using solar panels to power the vehicle.
The vehicle was trialled by Durham University and completed the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, which saw the UK team complete the 3,000km course journey.
The car, which is powered solely by energy from the sun, completed over 1,800 miles in six days in a challenge across Australia.
Students from Durham University have now turned their attention to building the Ortus-T model which can hit speeds of up to 37mph.
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The car completed 1,800 miles in an Australian competition
DURHAM UNIVERSITY
The vehicle will hit the racetrack again on September 21 when it competes in a 24-hour endurance race in Belgium.
During the challenge, each team can only make a maximum of two stops for charging during the 24-hour event.
Vedika Bedi, Durham University solar car team principal, said: “We’re so proud of our achievements in Australia, but we are already looking forward to the next challenge!
“We have parked our 2023 car (DUSC2023) and are back in the laboratory with a completely different track vehicle, called Ortus-T.
“Ortus has four wheels, rather than the three-wheel catamaran DUSC2023 design, and it’s a tighter squeeze to get behind the wheel, as it’s designed for a 5ft 5in driver, rather than a 6ft 4in person when we were in Australia.”
She added that the race in Belgium will present a new set of challenges, an obvious one being that there won’t be as much sun in Belgium.
However, she explained that the team has incorporated 20kg batteries which will power the car at cruising speed for four hours to give it an extra boost.
The race in Belgium, allows solar cars to show their “full potential” with low power consumption and aerodynamic design over a full day.
It is made up of at least 63 per cent recycled resources and renewable resources in the tyres.
The tyres are comprised of recovered carbon black, recycled organic fibre, rubber chemical, oil, and reinforcement material using recycled steel.
Andrea Manenti, vice president of Bridgestone North Region added that the solar car is a “feat of engineering”.
Durham University Solar Car is the longest-running solar car team in the UK.
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The vehicle features at least 63 per cent recycled resources in the tyres
DURAM UNIVERSITY
The creation of a working solar car could become an alternative for petrol and diesel drivers once commercial.