Students with the new-look Waikato car
Students at the University of Waikato have refurbished a 2007 design and are now ready for the annual 3000km Darwin to Adelaide solar challenge which begins next month.
The mechanical engineering students this week unveiled their entry, which has an improved suspension system and upgraded control systems, brakes and body shell.
The team has been working on the refurbishment of the car – called the UltraCommuter – for the last six months in preparation for the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge which begins in Darwin on 6 October.
A total of eight University staff and students are heading to Darwin for the race, including the four key engineering students.
The biennial event attracts international teams from universities, technical institutes and private entrepreneurs that compete in three main classes: Challenger, Cruiser and Adventure.
This year the University car has been invited by the WSC organisers to pioneer the new EVolution (EV for electric vehicle) class aimed at demonstrating practical and low environmental impact vehicles.
As well as pioneering the EVolution Class, it will be the only New Zealand car in the event. The car has a range of 350-400kms on a single charge an