A team of 30 students from Montreal’s École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) has officially launched its car, dubbed Eclipse, a solar-powered vehicle entered in the 2009 World Solar Challenge held in Australia on October 25 to 31. They are one of two teams from Quebec that will be competing this year, alongside the École Polytechnique.
Powered solely by the energy generated by its solar panels, the Eclipse VI uses the latest energy conservation and management technologies.
With some 2,300 solar cells, an aluminum frame, an aerodynamic, carbon fibre body and thousands of hours of work over the last four years, the team of students behind this futuristic vehicle intends to make a name for itself at the 2009 World Solar Challenge next October, where 40 teams from around the world will compete in a 3,000-km race across Australia.
Held every two years, the World Solar Challenge is considered one of the premier solar car competitions on the planet. Forty organizations and universities will participate in this 10th edition of the event. The teams will travel from Darwin to Adelaide, from the northern tip of Australia to the southern.
Only one type of fuel is allowed – sunlight. In 1999 Ontario’s Queen’s University clinched second place with its Radiance car, which maintained highway speeds of 72 km/h, the best Canadian performance.
This will be the first time the ETS takes part in the challenge, while the École Polytechnique and its Esteban V will be making a second appearance. The Quebec institutions aren’t competing against each other, however, as their cars are entered in different classes. Both teams will be travelling together by boat to Australia for several weeks.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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| A team of 30 students from Montreal’s École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) has officially launched its car, dubbed Eclipse, a solar-powered vehicle. |
Powered solely by the energy generated by its solar panels, the Eclipse VI uses the latest energy conservation and management technologies.
With some 2,300 solar cells, an aluminum frame, an aerodynamic, carbon fibre body and thousands of hours of work over the last four years, the team of students behind this futuristic vehicle intends to make a name for itself at the 2009 World Solar Challenge next October, where 40 teams from around the world will compete in a 3,000-km race across Australia.
Held every two years, the World Solar Challenge is considered one of the premier solar car competitions on the planet. Forty organizations and universities will participate in this 10th edition of the event. The teams will travel from Darwin to Adelaide, from the northern tip of Australia to the southern.
Only one type of fuel is allowed – sunlight. In 1999 Ontario’s Queen’s University clinched second place with its Radiance car, which maintained highway speeds of 72 km/h, the best Canadian performance.
This will be the first time the ETS takes part in the challenge, while the École Polytechnique and its Esteban V will be making a second appearance. The Quebec institutions aren’t competing against each other, however, as their cars are entered in different classes. Both teams will be travelling together by boat to Australia for several weeks.
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photo:Matthieu Lambert
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