Technology Slice Blog

Solar Powered Car Sets World Record - A solar-powered car which produces the same amount of energy as a household toaster has smashed the world speed record for a solar vehicle. The Sunswift IVy car clocked an average speed of 88.8 kph (55.2 mph) at a navy base in New South Wales, Australia. The car, which has an array of 400 silicon cells, was designed and built by a team of students from the Faculty of Engineering at Sydney's University of New South Wales. In completing the challenge, the team estimate that the car used around 1050 watts -- the same amount of energy you'd need to lightly toast a slice or two of bread. Solar Powered Car Sets World Record The new speed beats the previous record (78.3 kph) for cars powered by silicon solar cells set by the General Motors Sunraycer in 1988. Look out for Earth's Frontiers solar show in January 2011 For the world record attempt, the students enlisted the help of professional racing drivers Barton Mawer of Mawer E...