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https://thedriven.io/2025/08/24/boundary-pushing-solar-cars-ready-to-race-across-the-outback/>
"Young solar-tech teams from around the world are set to race their innovative
and boundary pushing vehicles across the outback in the coming week in a test
of innovative technology that may drive the solar-powered vehicles of tomorrow.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge starts in Darwin on Sunday, with 34 race
cars from 17 countries silently whizzing 3000km south, vying to be the first to
reach Adelaide.
The twice-yearly event began in 1987 and attracts a global audience of
millions, watching solar-powered cars designed, engineered and built at
universities and schools in Australia and around the world.
Once the teams leave Darwin they must travel as far as they can until 5pm each
day when they make camp in the desert wherever they happen to be.
Event ambassador Chris Selwood said designing and building a solar car to
travel 3000km, qualifying then making it to the start was “an incredible
achievement for those with dreams of a more sustainable future”.
“Safety for everyone is paramount and that’s one area that can’t be
compromised,” he said in a statement.
The competition will have teams tackle extreme heat, vast open desert stretches
and varied terrain in three classes: Challenger, Cruiser, and Explorer.
The Cruiser Class was created to encourage “green to the mainstream” concept
cars kitted out with innovative, sustainable, and potentially practical
features that could find their way into real-world design.
Driver-only Challenger class cars must travel 3000km on the power of sunshine,
while Cruisers carry a passenger and in addition to solar power are able to
charge from external sources after 5pm each day.
The Explorer Class provides an even broader platform to showcase prospective
ideas, technology, and renewables.
Overseas entrants this year include teams from Germany, Sweden, Italy, the
Netherlands, Estonia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the US."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
