Solar-powered car travels 3,000km on less power than a kettle
A solar-powered car that uses less power than a kettle has travelled 3,000km from Darwin to Adelaide to win its category in the Global Green Challenge, one of the world’s largest green car races.
The futuristic-looking Tokai Challenger was built by a university team from Japan car and won the race with a driving time of 29 hours 49 minutes over the course of four days, which equates to an average speed of 100.54km/h.
The team attributed their success to an electric motor with an efficiency of 97%, lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) bodywork and a race that was trouble-free with the exception of one puncture.
The 62mph “Challenger” solar racing car harnesses the power of the sun using a 6m2 covering of high-efficiency silicon cells incorporated into its bodywork.
The car weighs just 160kg and is powered by a motor rated at about 2kW.
How much power does the Tokai Challenger car use?
The single-seat Challenger uses approximately 2 kilowatts over the course of one hour – a single-bar electric heater typically uses 1 kilowatt. One kilowatt is equivalent to 1.34 horsepower.
| Vehicle/appliance | Power consumption kW | Top speed |
|---|---|---|
| “ Tokai Challenger” electric vehicle | approximately 2kW | 62mph |
| Kettle | up to 3kW | 0mph |
| Honda CG 125 commuter motorcycle | 7.9 | 70mph |
| VW Golf TDi family car | 67 | 116mph |
