Sunswift IVy – the fastest solar-only car in the world!

Sunswift IVy – the fastest solar-only car in the world!

This is the Sunswift IVy, and it just recently broke the Guiness world land speed record for solar-powered vehicles on January 7, beating GM’s Sunraycer to the top spot. GM’s Sunraycer previously clocked 78 kph back in 1988 using 1,500 watts of solar power, while the Sunswift IVy managed to hit 88 kph using just 1,050 watts.

The IVy is shaped like an airplane wing, which is basically the shape of a teardrop, which is the most efficient aerodynamic shape for minimizing drag. The IVy’s shape is designed for minimum lift and minimum drag. Hard to imagine, but it can fit one very small person.

Sunswift IVy – the fastest solar-only car in the world!

Its footprint is about the same size of an average sedan but it’s only half the height and 10% of the weight of an average car. It’s powered solely by solar energy, and by calculations, the Sunswift IVy should technically have been able to achieve 115 kph at peak power (Sunswift says equivalent to what’s needed to toast two slices of bread) and an estimated average speed of 85 kph. However, during the test day, the clouds didn’t allow peak energy to be reached.

Its chassis is monocoque and made of carbon fibre, while the suspension uses a double wishbone at the front and a trailing arm at the rear. Steering is rack and pinion. It uses only three carbon fibre wheels, wrapped with Dunlop Solarma tyres. Solar power charges a lithium polymer battery weighing about 24.75 kg, which in turn powers a brushless CSIRO three-phase 1,800 watt 98% efficiency DC motor.

The whole program cost about US$280,000 and took 18 months to complete. Look after the jump for a couple more photos of the IVy.

[zenphotopress number=999 album=1879]

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Carl Wong on Jan 15, 2011 at 12:02 am

    Solar cars in one way or the other could be one of the ultimate future emission free alternatives when developed with even lower costs.

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  • tonimaniam on Jan 15, 2011 at 12:11 am

    car got 4 tires..isnt it?..

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  • clone on Jan 15, 2011 at 2:40 am

    Paul, do you guys got full report on this race?

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  • Kevin Lee on Jan 15, 2011 at 8:36 am

    woah, theres a malaysian flag there, but awesome solar car

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  • raritan on Jan 15, 2011 at 8:38 am

    I can see malaysian flag in the 1st pic, did we participate in this event?

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    • ayuarjuna on Jan 15, 2011 at 12:33 pm

      AFAIK UTM being actively participate in this kind of race… but not sure if they entered that race.. the flag is there, should have ‘someone’ there on ‘our’ behalf i guess.. hmmm..

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  • junaidi on Jan 15, 2011 at 9:57 am

    woot, malaysian flag flying high there. nice

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  • ayuarjuna on Jan 15, 2011 at 10:12 am

    at 85kph i imagine the driver didn’t have a good chance to survive when crash into the back of a SUV… or perhaps even a good old sedan :)

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  • Dak's Quacks on Jan 15, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    After so many years, the design of the solar car still looks the same, with BIG solar panel. Wonder how many more years it will be in production. Can’t they be more innovative? Or it just some kind of science project for uni students?

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  • well done for jokie..too brave

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