Universities are a source of great innovation and ideas. With concern about the environment, alternatives to fossil fuel power are always being sought, solar power among them and Canadian universities are actively working on solutions, including in the transport sector.
The Formula Sun Grand Prix International solar vehicle competition was held this month in Austin Texas.
Canadian universities came out on top in the two main categories.
The competitors from universities across North America with their various machines at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack in Texas (Formula Sun)
The University of Calgary won handily in the “multi-occupant” class, while the Polytechnique of Montreal beat the competition to win the single occupant class.
Vehicles are judged on laps completed, speed, if they can also be charged from a wall outlet, and aesthetics counts as well.
The Polytechnique in Montreal handily won its single occupant class at the event with its “Estaban” (Polytechnique)
The University of Calgary car is said to be able to achieve a speed of 100 kilometres an hour on a flat road, though it did 90km/h on the Circuit of the Americas race track, although the student creators say it was designed for distance endurance not speed.
The Univesite Polytechnique also handily beat competitors as well in both distance covered and speed.
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