World Solar Challenge - 2019

[Joe Blake]

Once more into the shining breach. It's up and coming. A big field this year, over 50 or so teams.

https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/

[Rob Beckers]

Go! Netherlands, Go! :cheer2:

[Rob Beckers]

Top spot at this time for a Dutch team: https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/dashboard/timing?day=dyn
The cars are currently going through "dynamic scrutineering", doing laps at top-speed to qualify for road-worthiness.

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/dashboard/timing?day=dyn
Netherlands still leading 1, 2, 3.

[Rob Beckers]

Day 2 results showing now: Dutchies at no. 1 and 2, Belgian team at no. 3. These things are fast! In two days they've done 1200 km already!

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

Interested in the "Cruiser Class".

In the Cruiser Class, 2017 Champions Solar Team Eindhoven, also from the Netherlands is satisfied with its performance, with Stella Era consistently carrying three and four passengers.

Sunswift in its two-seater sports coupe ‘Violet’ has been shadowing Eindhoven, travelling at similar speeds. Solar Team Eindhoven were first to arrive in Tennant Creek, followed by Germany’s SolarCar-Team Hochschule Bochum and IVE Engineering from Hong Kong in Sophie 6.

[Joe Blake]

Dutch first, Dutch second, Germans third. Only a few kilometres separating them. Very exciting. :eek:

[Joe Blake]

Oh no, wind has taken out the race leader, Dutch RedE!!! However, the lead is between the Dutch(!) (Vattenfall) and the Belgians (Agoria). Mere minutes separate them on the road. Looks like a tight finish is in store.

[Rob Beckers]

Even the Dutch news had an article about the Twente team (my alma mater by the way). Seems their car suddenly veered off a perfectly straight road, and rolled a few times. It's damaged beyond repair, so their out of the race (https://nos.nl/data/image/2019/10/16/585157/2048x1152.jpg) (click the link for an image, it's rather large so I didn't want to post it directly). I can only imagine the disappointment of the team, after all the work, and being at the head of the race..

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

FIRE!!!!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-17/solar-challenge-leading-vehicle-bursts-into-flames/11611112

Vattenfall catches fire 360 km away from finish.

OH NO!!!!!! :sad2::sad2:

[Rob Beckers]

That is another Dutch team by the way... This one is Delft University that has won first place 7 times in the past 10 years!

Should we get the conspiracy theorists out of their dark closet?! :weird:

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

Congratulations to all competitors, regardless of where they finished, and commiserations to those who, through no fault of their own, weren't able to finish under their own power.

Looking forward to seeing the results of the "Cruiser" class. "Violet" is in with a good chance.

[Joe Blake]

Results (Challenger class) - 1 Agoria Belgium; 2 Tokai Japan; Electrum USA.

https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/dashboard/timing

[Rob Beckers]

They should make this race longer Joe! It's over too quickly...
Maybe go around Australia, take the coastal road!

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

I'd like to see an extra class, for pedal-powered bikes/trikes with electric motor assistance, carrying their own solar panels.

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z24IwyWzxng/W_iPeMFp17I/AAAAAAAAAE4/nTD4TAIitsEbtI1o3tOITxFhr0fSwqbDgCLcBGAs/s1600/P2190002.JPG

[Rob Beckers]

Bet you can do 100 km/h with that and beat them Joe!
Downhill, wind in the back, and pushed by a 54-foot semi... :eek:

On another note: Dutchies came first in the Cruiser class. The team from Technical University Eindhoven did that. Nice looking car too! According to the article it had some self-driving ability, entertainment system etc.

https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/team/view/300

-RoB-

[Joe Blake]

Meanwhile, back in Australia, it seems that our national fleet of petrol driven cars is sucking up more petroleum per kilometre since 2015.

https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/australia-fuel-economy-worse/