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back to article North American teams land in Oz to race for the sun

Canada is about to dispatch its World Solar Challenge entry on its trip to Darwin, with the Ecole de Technologie Supérieure of Montréal – ÉTS – sending its tubular Eclipse 8 on its way. The Canadian team offers a stark contrast to the comforts of the Cruiser class, and even to most of the Challenger class cars. Its weight …

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  1. Neoc

    Sounds heavy

    "“…the shell, which is 30 mm thick clear Makrolon polycarbonate”

    30mm (or 3cm, or about 1.2”) is awfully thick and heavy for a lightweight covering, but that's what their website says - http://eclipse.etsmtl.ca/voiture/

    I figure there's been a typo somewhere...

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    1. Morzel
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      Coat

      Re: Sounds heavy

      Ha, but what other team can say that their vehicle is Grizzly-proof? (seen that they're coming from Canada and all...)

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      1. Palebushman
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        Re: Sounds heavy

        Morzel dear fellow, there are no 'Grizzly' or any kind of bears roaming the vast wilderness of Oz.

        Before anyone comes back with 'How about the Koala'?

        That little chap is relatively small and is not a member of the 'Bear' species anyway;-)

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        1. Martin Budden Silver badge
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          Alert

          Re: Sounds heavy

          Gotta watch out for drop-bears!

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  2. Longrod_von_Hugendong
    Devil

    Yeah, great

    Race in lots of abundant sun, why not make it a proper race and force ingenuity by having the solar race here in scotland. That would separate the men from the boys when it comes to generating power from the sun!

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    1. Anonymous Coward
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      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Yeah, great

      Yes, great idea. Over the highlands through horizontal rain, with the gnats eating everyone alive.

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    2. Karl Vegar
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      Re: Yeah, great

      Hey, if you really want to separate the chaps from the weak, you need to go further north.

      Start in Tromsø, go north and east, (in that order), and stop before you get to the Russian border.

      If your lucky with the weather, you get to test the round the clock endurance, otherwise, lets just say light might not be a good idea in heavy winds. Gnats and mosquitoes are naturally there to test the anti air defenses.

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    3. Martin Budden Silver badge
      Reply Icon

      Re: Yeah, great

      @Longrod_von_Hugendong - it's not always sunny in Oz, sometimes there is rain or cloud or smoke or dust storms.

      p.s. I like the Family Guy reference!

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  3. Will Godfrey Silver badge

    @longrod {wotsit}

    Instead of being so negative, why not just enjoy the spectacle for what it is?

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  4. easytoby

    Interesting UK entry also

    There is a in interesting UK entry this year also. Employs novel option of constantly adjusting tilt of the solar panels to keep maximum output.

    see:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23810535

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  5. DownUndaRob

    Mobile Coverage

    As an NT resident I can tell you that there is far more coverage in the smaller towns than you think, but only if you are with Tel$tra.

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