Afrigather Photo voltaic automobile groups from Canada outperformed in two classes of the newest Elektrek American Photo voltaic Problem. The scholar group from Polytechnique Montréal received first within the a number of occupant car class, and the scholars from École de technologie supérieure received second place within the single occupant car class.
Valerie Thompson
Scholar photo voltaic automobile groups from Canada’s Polytechnique Montréal and École de technologie supérieure made it to the rostrum on the Electrek American Photo voltaic Problem 2024, a distance-based competitors for photo voltaic automobiles.
With a a number of occupant car (MOV) named Esteban 11, college students from Polytechnique Montréal received first place within the MOV class in each the qualifier circuit race, often known as the Electrek System Solar Grand Prix (FSGP) and in the principle race, the Electrek American Photo voltaic Problem, which requires finishing a minimal of 1,500 miles (2,400 km).
The Esteban group accomplished 1,610.3 miles at a median pace of 36.2 mph (58.26 km/h), with an total rating of 73.86. The MOV class is scored on components past the gap lined, similar to practicality, quantity of exterior vitality used, and whether or not the 35 mph goal common pace was maintained.
The opposite Montreal group, hailing from École de technologie supérieure, received silver within the single occupant car (SOV) class, finishing 2,004.5 miles with the Éclipse XI photo voltaic automobile. The SOV class is scored solely on miles pushed. Solely within the occasion of a tie is elapsed time related.
This 12 months’s winner of the SOV class was the College of Michigan scholar group with its Astrum photo voltaic automobile, finishing 2,095.5 miles (3,372 km) with a median pace of 37.51 mph.
Esteban 11 by the Polytechnique Montréal scholar group
The Esteban venture spokesperson advised pv journal that the group started competing with a two-seater MOV in 2019. “Switching classes allowed us for extra creativity in our design. Being a number of occupants additionally shows the effectivity of our automobile. Particularly within the occasion, the broader public will get to learn the way the know-how evolves,” stated the Esteban spokesperson.
The group used a 1218 W photo voltaic array with cells from Singapore-based Maxeon and encapsulation by German specialist PV panel producer OPES Options. The 4-wheel car weighed 293 kg, measuring 4.92m x 1.8m x 1.04 m. The battery was a 9.2 kWh by China-based BAK Applied sciences, weighing 47 kg, paired with two 5kW M2096D-3 hub motors from Japan’s Mitsuba in a carbon fiber monocoque.
“One nice problem we had was splitting the battery pack. This allowed us to have a decrease middle of gravity however difficult the monitoring and safety,” the spokesperson stated, including {that a} new printed circuit board design adhering to skilled requirements with options to handle warmth results additionally made a distinction this 12 months.
Éclipse XI by the École de technologie supérieure scholar group
The Éclipse XI, a 3-wheel design weighing 200 kg, measured 4.5 m x 1.5 m x 1.1 m. It was geared up with a 1000 W photo voltaic array spanning 4m2, based mostly on Sunpower Maxeon Gen 3 photo voltaic cells. It had a 20 kg 5kWh lithium ion battery by Japanese producer Panasonic.
The Éclipse XI group not solely received a silver medal within the American Photo voltaic Problem competitors, it additionally received two awards, an Electrical Design Award, and the Abe Poot Award. The latter is called after an influential determine within the U.S. photo voltaic automobile racing neighborhood, that acknowledges group spirit of collaboration and cooperation, in accordance with the Éclipse XI group spokesperson.
The Electrical Design Award acknowledged the efficiency of {the electrical} setup. “At FSGP, we had been the primary group to finish each electrical and battery safety system inspection with all inexperienced standing. We additionally proved that our electrical methods had been strong and dependable alongside each races, greater than 4500 km with none problem,” the Éclipse group spokesperson advised pv journal.
“For this race, we used a custom-made motor casing with air cooling system to assist us climb essentially the most steeped hills alongside the route,” they stated, including that the group is presently engaged on an improved most energy level monitoring that can “maximize effectivity throughout all working ranges” to have the ability to cut back total weight and value.
The Electrek American Photo voltaic Problem 2024 attracted over 30 student-run groups from the U.S. and Canada. It started on 20 July in Nashville, Tennessee, and led to Casper, Wyoming, on 27 July. The first route has 1562.2 whole miles to finish and autos should common no less than 35 mph for the occasion. There are seven elective loops to earn extra factors.
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