A red futuristic car, known as Unlimited 6.0, is racing through the Australian outback this weekend. The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge began on Sunday in Darwin and covers 3,000km of desert to Adelaide.
The solar-powered vehicle from Western Sydney University travels at highway speeds. Yet, it uses only the same amount of power as it takes to boil a kettle. Messages of support were written on the panels, including one that read, “get this man a beer.”
This year’s race is especially tough. For the first time, it is being held in winter. Therefore, the cars must run efficiently with reduced sunlight. According to Micah Honan, the electrical lead for the Western Sydney team, “There are many solutions for a complicated problem, and everyone solves it a bit differently.”
In addition, the competition features 34 cars from 17 countries. The teams are mostly students who designed and built their vehicles. Furthermore, international groups, including one from Germany, joined the challenge to test new technologies for the future of transport.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge first began in 1987. Since then, it has taken place every two years and now gathers millions of viewers online. After leaving Darwin, the teams must drive until 5 pm each day. Then, they camp in the desert before continuing the next morning.
