Australian Sunswift solar car launches

The University of New South Wales has previewed its latest solar car project, the Sunswift VI.

Due to race at the upcoming World Solar Challenge in central Australia, the prototype is the latest in a long line of concepts to emerge from the UNSW’s engineering faculty. For 2017, the Sunswift Solar team has focussed its attention on making the racer more car-like than before, with everyday comforts and a driving range of about 1000km.

Unveiled at a private function in Sydney overnight, the sixth-generation Sunswift VI sees the solar-powered car begin to converge on mass market potential.

“The brief for us this year was to create a car that was far more practical and much more consumer-focussed than our previous race cars,” said James Anderson, industrial design team chief.

“The interior is one of the biggest focusses we’ve had on this car. The industrial design team has been brought in much earlier in the design phase this year so that we could think about interior and exterior aesthetics much earlier in the process.

“We now have the shell and chassis of the car, but that’ about the extent of manufacturing at this point.

"We have no wheels, no suspension and none of the interior, but that’s all happening in the next few weeks.”

The Sunswift solar car takes energy from a 5 metre-square solar panel which powers two in-wheel rear hub DC electric motors that also feature re-generative braking. The team plans on integrating everyday interior features using lightweight carbon-fibre and composite materials that should only add six to eight kilograms.

While the Sunswift team cannot give away too many secrets ahead of the solar challenge race, the latest project carries some impressive figures.

“Over the past four years, we’ve seen an increase in top speed, from about 90km/h to 140km/h,” said Sunswift project manager Simba Kuestler.

“In terms of range, our previous range was about 500km range, but this year we’re hoping for a range of at least 1000km.

“To achieve more range we’ve gone for a more aerodynamic design and designing in a large capacity to hold the battery – and we’ve built in more space to hold a bigger battery so that we can store more power.”

The team will continue testing the Sunswift VI in the lead-up to the World Solar Challenge. The end goal is for the project to effect mass market change.

“Even if it doesn’t end up being our exact idea of a solar-powered car – even if it’s pure electric cars that are charged by renewable solar stations – that carries the same outright goal for us,” Kuestler said.

“Our idea is to see whether we can combine the two technologies. To make a car that could ultimately power itself.”