Western Sydney University’s solar car team brings innovation to regional NSW
Western Sydney University’s Solar Car Team will take over regional New South Wales as part of their roadshow beginning on Monday, 9 September 2024, in Lithgow and finishing on Friday, 13 September, in Singleton.
The student-led team, supported by the School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, will share their passion for sustainability and innovation when they visit and meet with schools and community members throughout the week.
Team Manager, Nina Walters, said the team was looking forward to connecting with schools and communities, to share their message of sustainability.
“We're thrilled to connect with people in the community. This roadshow is a unique opportunity to share our passion for solar-powered innovation, including showcasing our latest high-performance solar car. It’s all about inspiring others to think sustainably,” said Nina.
The Solar Car team will travel through Lithgow, Bathurst, Parkes, Dubbo, Coonamble, Wee Waa, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Quirindi and Singleton. As a highlight of the regional roadshow, the team will display ‘UNLIMITED 5.0’, the car that scored the team a place of 9th overall and to be the only Australian team to cross the finish line in last year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
‘UNLIMITED 5.0’ features a three-wheeled design, with aluminium suspension and a carbon fibre chassis manufactured entirely in-house by the team. The car’s top speed is 118km/h and took two years to design, engineer and manufacture. It can travel 400km using the same amount of energy a Tesla needs to travel 26km.
Producing six cars, over more than a decade, the team became the first international team to win the American Solar Challenge in 2018, beating Michigan University’s 8-year winning streak. The team also broke the record in 2019 for the lightest solar-powered vehicle ever to race weighing only 116.8 kilograms.
The Solar Car Team is made up of 25 students from the fields of engineering, communications, business, IT, computer, and science. They manage every aspect of the production and design of the vehicle, as well as sponsorship, marketing and the administrative elements of their involvement in international competitions. The team utilise world-class facilities at the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct based at Kingswood.
The roadshow follows the University’s recent success in the prestigious Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings, where it was named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact, for a ground-breaking three years in a row.
Roadshow Schedule:
- Monday 9 September, 2:30 pm – Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, and National Motor Racing Museum
- Tuesday 10 September, 9:00 am – HARS Parkes Aviation Museum
- Wednesday 11 September, 9:00 am – Coonamble Silo
- Thursday 12 September, 9:30 am – Gunnedah Rural Museum
- Thursday 12 September, 12:30 pm – Quirindi Silo
ENDS
10 September 2024
Latest News
ABC RN transcript: Vice-Chancellor Professor George Williams discusses higher education sector, student support, and the impact of AI
The following is a transcript of an interview that aired on ABC Radio National Saturday Extra between presenter, Nick Bryant and Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO.
Western Sydney University are the number one Australian solar car team at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
Western Sydney Solar Car team has crossed the finish line placing preliminarily sixth in the world overall, and the number one Australian team in the world’s most prestigious solar car challenge.
Western Sydney University Statement on Cyber Incidents
Western Sydney University has issued an update to its community following confirmation that previously stolen personal information was published online, including on the dark web.