Solar automotive groups from Canada excelled in two classes within the newest Electrek American Solar Challenge. The pupil group from Polytechnique Montréal gained first place within the a number of occupant automobile class, and college students from École de technologie supérieure gained second place within the single occupant automobile class.
Solar automotive staff college students from Canada’s Polytechnique Montréal and École de technologie supérieure reached the rostrum on the Electrek American Solar Challenge 2024, a distance competitors for photo voltaic automobiles.
With a a number of occupant automobile (MOV) named Esteban 11, college students from Polytechnique Montréal gained first place within the MOV class within the qualifier circuit race, often called the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) and in the principle race, the Electrek American. Solar Challenge, which requires a minimal of 1,500 miles (2,400 km) to be accomplished.
The Esteban staff accomplished 1,610.3 miles at a median pace of 36.2 mph (58.26 km/h), with an general rating of 73.86. The MOV class is scored on elements past distance coated, equivalent to practicality, quantity of exterior power used, and whether or not the 35 mph goal common pace is maintained.
Another Montreal staff, from the École de technologie supérieure, gained silver within the single occupant automobile (SOV) class, finishing 2,004.5 miles within the Éclipse XI photo voltaic automotive. The SOV class is earned solely by miles pushed. Only within the occasion of a tie the previous time is related.
This 12 months’s winner within the SOV class was the University of Michigan pupil staff with the Astrum photo voltaic automotive, which accomplished 2,095.5 miles (3,372 km) with a median pace of 37.51 mph.
Esteban 11 within the pupil group of Polytechnique Montréal
The spokesperson of the Esteban venture mentioned pv journal that the staff started to compete in a two-seater MOV in 2019. “The switch of classes allowed us for extra creativity in our design. Being a multi-occupant additionally displays the effectivity of our automotive. Especially on the occasion, the broader public can learn the way know-how is creating,” mentioned Esteban’s spokesperson.
The staff used a 1218 W photo voltaic array with cells from Singapore-based Maxeon and encapsulation by German specialist PV panel producer OPES Solutions. The 4-wheel automobile weighs 293 kg, with dimensions of 4.92mx 1.8mx 1.04m. The battery is a 9.2 kWh by China-based BAK Technologies, weighing 47 kg, paired with two 5kW M2096D-3 hub motors from Japan’s Mitsuba in a carbon fiber monocoque.
“One large problem we had was the distribution of the battery pack. It permits us to have a decrease heart of gravity however complicates monitoring and safety,” mentioned the spokesperson, including {that a} new printed circuit board design that follows skilled requirements with when it comes to managing the results of warmth additionally made a distinction this 12 months.
Eclipse XI by the coed group of the École de Technologie Supérieure
The Éclipse XI, a 3-wheeled design weighing 200 kg, measures 4.5 mx 1.5 mx 1.1 m. It is supplied with a 1000 W photo voltaic array spanning 4m2, primarily based on Sunpower Maxeon Gen 3 photo voltaic cells. It has a 20 kg 5kWh lithium ion battery by Japanese producer Panasonic.
The Éclipse XI staff not solely gained a silver medal within the American Solar Challenge competitors, it additionally gained two awards, the Electrical Design Award, and the Abe Poot Award. The latter is known as after an influential determine within the US photo voltaic automotive racing neighborhood, recognizing the staff’s spirit of collaboration and cooperation, in accordance with a spokesperson for the Éclipse XI staff.
The Electrical Design Award acknowledges the efficiency of {the electrical} setup. “In the FSGP, we had been the primary staff to finish {the electrical} and battery safety system inspection with all inexperienced circumstances. We additionally proved that our electrical programs are sturdy and dependable in each races , greater than 4500 km with none subject,” mentioned the spokesperson of the Éclipse staff. pv journal.
“For this race, we used a custom-made motor casing with an air cooling system to assist us climb the very best hills alongside the route,” they mentioned, including that the staff is presently engaged on a improved most energy level monitoring that “maximizes effectivity in all ranges of operation” to scale back general weight and price.
The Electrek American Solar Challenge 2024 attracted greater than 30 student-run groups from the US and Canada. It began on 20 July in Nashville, Tennessee, and led to Casper, Wyoming, on 27 July. The essential route has 1562.2 complete miles to finish and automobiles should common no less than 35 mph for the occasion. There are seven non-compulsory loops to get extra factors.
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