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Solar Car
Winner of Panasonic World Solar Challenge Environmental Awareness Award 2007
Winners of the Panasonic World Solar Challenge Environmental Awareness Award 2007 are producing a new solar car based upon their original design philosophies. The car will have 2 alternative body kits, an aerodynamic 'race mode' and a smaller 'commuter mode'. Completion of the car is anticipated for the North American Solar Challenge 2010. Nos Gwawr II is being developed by a team headed by Dr. G. Sparey-Taylor and Mr. T. Boddington from the Performance Car Technology Dept. at Glyndwr University, Wrexham, N. Wales. The model solar car was designed to be driven by the youngest member of the team, Finnbar aged 6 from Minera School. The knee-high machine to be driven by Finnbar, is a half-length model of the car to be launched in September. In addition to being used for testing aerodynamics, the model will be used for both marketing and raising awareness in schools and around Wales. Dr Sparey-Taylor said the team's design philosophy was that parts were to be sourced from within Wales where possible, and recycled where feasible. The car will have two body designs, an aerodynamic design for racing and a smaller "commuter mode". Despite its low cost relative to production cars, Sparey-Taylor says that NOSGwawrII isn’t feasible for mass production. Instead, the latest Gwawr will be a working research project for his Centre for Future and Hybrid Vehicle Technology. The model was created from foam using a CNC milling machine, and then covered in carbon fibre to give strength. For more details, click here. |
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