Sunswift IV – The fastest solar powered vehicle sets record at 88km/h

Solar power hasn’t really had much to do with land speed record before, until now, as the Sunswift IV broke the record for the fastest vehicle powered by solar energy. The “car”, more a bunch of solar panels on wheels, was created by the University of New South Wales, and has officially broken the Guinness World Record, touching speeds of 88km/h, over the previously held record by 9km/h. The timers were set and the car was flagged off at the HMAS Albatross naval base at Nowra. The Sunswift has in the past touched speeds of 100km/h in a race between Darwin and Adelaide in 2009, though for the record run, the vehicle’s operators were required to remove its 24.75kg lithium-polymer battery, having it powered completely by the sun.

Costing $280,000 and under construction for 18 months, this three-wheeled 4.6m long, and 1.8m tall carbon fiber vehicle produces 1.3kW of power at its peak. A pat on the back for the University of New South Wales!
[CarAdvice]