{"id":14943,"date":"2017-09-12T06:11:14","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T19:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=14943"},"modified":"2017-09-12T06:11:14","modified_gmt":"2017-09-11T19:41:14","slug":"world-solar-challenge-mb0202","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/world-solar-challenge-mb0202\/","title":{"rendered":"Flinders Uni Unveils World Solar Challenge Entry"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Investigator

Still a work in progress – Flinders University’s Investigator III<\/p><\/div>\n

Flinders University\u2019s first solar car entry in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, Investigator III, was unveiled yesterday – and the pressure is on to have the vehicle ready for next month’s race.<\/p>\n

Flinders Automotive Solar Team’s (FAST’s) electric vehicle will be entered in the Challenger class, which is for solar cars designed for practicality and appeal in a given market segment; such as family sedans or light freight.<\/p>\n

The FAST team is shooting to average 100km an hour over the 3,000km road trip, which starts in Darwin and ends in Adelaide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited to be incorporating technologies such as an energy conserving strategy engine, flexible and embedded solar panels, regenerative suspension and a novel mesh communications to our entry vehicle,\u201d said<\/a> FAST director Dr Stuart Wildy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

However, Dr. Wildy stated later in the day the regenerative suspension 1<\/a><\/sup> system may not make it into the final vehicle for this year, according to an ABC report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Investigator<\/p>\n

It’s estimated Investigator III’s maximum allowable solar array size of 5m2 will have a peak output upwards of 1000W. The vehicle’s battery pack consists of 2,448 Panasonic NCR18650BF batteries.<\/p>\n

“We connect 36 of these batteries in parallel to form one cell and we connect 34 of these cells in series to make one of our battery packs. In our solar car, we have two of these battery packs, which weigh in at a total of 120kg,” states FAST<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the interesting aspects of the vehicle is the chassis is a steel space frame design. While heavier than carbon-fibre monocoque, this design is easily modified and safer during impact says the team.<\/p>\n

Two Marand axial flux, brushless permanent magnet hub motors are used to drive the rear wheels of the Investigator III<\/p>\n

Australia Well Represented\u00a0At World Solar Challenge<\/h2>\n

Other Australian teams competing this year are:<\/p>\n