2010 American Solar Challenge Road Race Underway

The 2010 American Solar Challenge (ASC2010) is officially underway!

On Saturday, solar-powered vehicles took off at noon from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, en route to the Chicago suburb of Naperville. ASC is a competition where students design, build and drive solar-powered vehicles in a rally event. This year’s event marks the 20th anniversary of the ASC.

In an effort to promote a greater understanding of solar energy technology, this hands-on competition provides the opportunity for students to “develop and demonstrate their technical and creative abilities” while learning about the benefits of solar power.

To qualify, each team must pass several inspections, meet various regulations and complete a minimum number of laps in the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP), a three-day track race held earlier this month. Michigan came in first place and Stanford and Minnesota tied for the fastest.

Teams comprised of students from all over the world that successfully qualified to compete in the 2010 American Solar Challenge include:

• Illinois State University – Mercury III
• Iowa State University – Anthelion
• Missouri University of Science and Technology – Solar Miner VII
• Northwestern University – Nusolar sc5
• Oregon State University – Odyssey
• Stanford University – Apogee
• State University of New York New Paltz – SUN Hawk
• University of Kentucky – Gato del Sol IV
• University of Michigan – Infinium
• University of Minnesota – Centaurus 2
• University of Texas at Austin – Samsung Solorean
• Western Michigan University - Sunseeker

International teams from Canada, Germany and Taiwan include:

• Hochschule Bochum – Bochum University of Applied Sciences – SolarWorld No. 1
• National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences – Apollo VI
• University of Calgary – Schulich Axiom

The on-road race takes place between 9:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Once the green flag is dropped, each team took off in one minute intervals. As the teams travel across the Midwest, they will stop at various mandatory checkpoints along the 1,200 mile route.

At each stop, the teams will mingle with the public and the media. Teams charge their batteries for several hours in the morning and night. Morning charge time begins each day at 7:00 A.M. and evening charge takes place at 6:00 P.M.

ASC2010 runs from June 20 through June 26th, 2010. The checkered flag will drop at the Naperville North High School in Naperville, IL. ASC2010 is hosted by the non-profit organization, Innovators Educational Foundation.

For updated information on the status of each team, please visit the website.

Images credit: ASC2010

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