World Solar Challenge Results Are In

Last weekend, the World Solar Challenge kicked off in Darwin, Australia. The race consisted of 38 entries of solar-powered vehicles. All in all, the participants would race 1,900 miles between Darwin, Australia and Adelaide, Australia. The race began on October 24th of this year.

While the race has been held every two years since 1987, this was the first year non-solar powered vehicles participated in their own race. The Eco Challenge featured commercially available vehicles in order to determine their fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide outputs.

The original frontrunners for the Solar Challenge included Australia, Britain, the United States, Japan and the Netherlands. The eventual winner of the race was the Tokai Challenger from Tokyo University in Japan. The Japanese team crossed the finish line on October 28th, while those who placed after them began arriving on October 29th. The Tokai Challenger averaged over 100 km/hr.

Second place went to the Netherlands team with the Nuna V. This team arrived early on October 29th and averaged just under 92 km/hr. Third place went to the USA team from the University of Michigan with the Infinium vehicle. This vehicle averaged approximately 90 km/hr.

The subsequent later arrivals were the USA team from MIT, the Australian team from the Aurora Vehicle Association and the USA Principia Solar Car Team. The once highly favored British team did not rank in the top 10.

The Eco Challenge, consisting of commercially available vehicles, complete results can be viewed here.