Solar cars visit The Pit for pit stop

by Peggy Rhodes

Daily Lobo

More than 200 fans welcomed 20 solar powered cars to The Pit July 18-20 when they stopped in Albuquerque as part of a nationwide race that is the longest of its kind in the world.

American Solar Challenge 2003, a 2,300-mile race from Chicago to Los Angeles along historic Route 66, is designed to demonstrate the untapped resource that is renewable energy, said Spencer Abraham, United States secretary of energy.

The Department of Energy is a co-sponsor of the bi-annual event in which national companies and university teams compete to build and race solar-powered cars across the country. Abraham said the race is one of many research efforts being made by the department to renew the country's energy reserves.

"The race is designed to promote a greater understanding of solar energy technology, its environmental benefits and future use of solar energy in energy efficiency technology," said John Horst, public relations specialist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

According to a UNM news release, the participants are permitted to only use solar cells, which convert sunlight into electricity, to power their aerodynamic vehicles on the long journey. It began on July 13 in Chicago and finished in Claremont, Calif. on July 23.

Several universities from across the United States and Canada participated in the event.

"The race challenges young engineers and scientists to find new ways to solve energy and transportation problems," said Chris Olson, a member of the University of Minnesota team. "Participants get excellent practical education through building their own cars and completing the race."

The cars, which reach a top speed of just over 60 mph, stopped at The Pit as one of the race's mandatory pit stops.

The Albuquerque stop, which was one of four such overnight stops during the race, was sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories and UNM.

Patrick Starr, adviser to the University of Minnesota team, said the teams are advised to use the stop over times wisely, recharging spent cell batteries, watering down the solar cells panels lining the cars' exteriors and designing strategies to complete the race.

"Because we are relying on such an unreliable energy source like the sun, we need to have contingent plans in place for every situation," Starr said. "Weather, time and energy management are all essential components of a successful race."

All the participants agreed that constructing such high tech vehicles and maintaining them throughout the 2,300-mile race comes with a hefty price tag.

"There is a great deal of work, time and money that goes into developing a high caliber solar car," said William Sacks, driver of the McGill University car. "The event cost us $110,000 of sponsor-donated products and services."

Sacks said participation in the race is well worth the price though, believing that it will not only add practical knowledge to what students involved in the race have learned in the classroom, but a rare opportunity to see their ideas and visions in action.