Stanford Solar Car Demonstrates Increased Efficiency in Race across Australia

The Stanford Solar Car Project made great strides during the 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, placing sixth (and reducing its distance from the leading team) in the biannual competition against engineers from around the world. Founded in 1989, the Stanford Solar Car Project is an entirely student-run, nonprofit organization of undergraduate students working toward building a car powered entirely by the sun.

This year’s vehicle model, the Arctan, built on the previous model’s success with a sleek design and asymmetrical body. Approximately 90% of the Arctan was made of parts custom built and tested by the students. Following extensive testing in California’s Central Valley, the Arctan finished the World Solar Challenge’s 3,000-km route across the middle of Australia in four and a half days. The vehicle averaged speeds of approximately 50 mph during the race, with top speeds close to 70 mph.