Bethany – The solar-powered racing car for a green race from Cambridge University

Bethany readies to roll out of the gates of Cambridge University to race in the World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide (more than 3,000km), Australia. Though the name Bethany may conjure up an image of some demure female, it’s actually is a solar powered racing beast. Weighing just 170kg, the green car can cruise at 60 mph, by feeding on the same amount of energy as a conventional hairdryer. (That’s some girly connection now.) Decked up with high-efficiency silicon cells, Bethany is capable of running at 50 times less power than a normal petrol-fuelled vehicle. It is also fitted with regenerative braking systems that recharge the car’s batteries when brakes are applied. Using computer simulation software, the £200,000 (about $300,000) car’s aerodynamics, rolling resistance, weight and electrical efficiency have been optimized to minimize its energy requirements.

The new vehicle is estimated to hit the road for a road-test in June before being shipped to Australia for October’s World Solar Challenge Race.
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