Solar powered success

One of Australia’s most efficient solar-powered vehicles quietly rolled into Gunnedah earlier this month.

The state-of-the-art machine was taking part in a regional roadshow through Central and North West NSW.

With a spaceship-like look, the three-wheeled car with aluminium suspension and a carbon fibre chassis, was a world apart alongside antique farm relics at the Gunnedah Rural Museum during the stopover.

A student-led team from Western Sydney University designed the car and placed ninth overall at the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Car Challenge.

It was also the only Australian contingent to cross the finish line in last year’s challenge.

The car is officially named ‘Unlimited 5.0’ but also known affectionately known by ‘TED’.

It weighs 196kg, has a top speed of 118kmh and took two years to design, engineer and manufacture.

Unlimited 5.0 features a range up to 800km using the installed 6.3kW battery if there is no, or low sunlight, and can travel 400km using the same amount of energy a Tesla needs to travel 26km.

The regional roadshow featured 19 students from the fields of engineering, communications, business, IT, computer, and science. With an average age of 21 years and all refer to themselves as a “great bunch of mates”.

The touring party included mechanical team, led by Aaron Sharman; race team; electrical parts and software team; communications team; partnership team (finance, sponsorship) and strategy team (weather, road conditions).

Lead driver Andrew Grima said the solar-powered driving features its share of challenges.

“You need great reflexes as the car is so low light and so low to the ground it wants to move all over the road,” Andrew said.

“It is very hot in the cab … no air conditioning. We have to watch out for potholes, this is why we have a spotters’ car’ which travels ahead of me and forewarns me.”

Team leader Nina Walters said the roadshow aimed to educate people about new innovation.

“Showcase the technology to country people that normally wouldn’t see something like this,” he said.

“We are also testing the car and developing innovations along the way.

“We love having school children come and see the car. We’re hoping it will inspire them to be the next generation of engineers.”

The university team, which utilises world-class facilities at the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct based at Kingswood, has produced six cars over more than a decade.

It became the first international team to win the American Solar Challenge in 2018, beating Michigan University’s eight-year winning streak.

The Australian team also broke the record in 2019 for the lightest solar-powered vehicle ever to race weighing only 116.8 kilograms.

The solar-powered car at Gunnedah.