A team of Australian students have recorded a new Guinness World Record for the fastest solar vehicle.
The Sunswift solar car, nicknamed ‘Ivy’ officially broke the world solar car speed record today at the HMAS Albatross navy base airstrip in Nowra, travelling at more than 88km/h.
Built and designed by students from New South Wales University, Ivy’s new speed record smashes the old record which stood at 88km/h. Driven on behalf of the students by professional racing driver Barton Mawer and Craig Davis, the solar powered model uses just 1200 watts to power up to record speeds-the same power it takes to use a toaster.
Powered silicon solar cells, the car uses solar energy alone to charge a 25kg battery pack.
The car also hit a top speed of 103km/h during the 3000km Global Green Challenge race from Darwin to Adelaide in 2009, in which the team won their category.
“We broke the record at 10.32 this morning,” said Sunswift project manager Daniel Friedman. “The Guinness World Book of Records adjudicators were on hand, so it’s all official. We’ve even been handed our certificate.”
Friedman said the team was excited that the car performed so well. “We were expecting to get our peak sun at noon, so the fact we broke the record so early was a great result.
“We hope the news will spur a lot more interest in solar energy and the debate about renewable energy technology,” he said.
More information about IVy can be found at www.sunswift.com
