The SunSwift eVe electric car drove 500 kilometers in 4 hours 40 minutes

Students from the University of New South Wales (Australia) built a solar-powered car that broke a world record for 26 years . This is a record for the speed of overcoming a distance of 500 kilometers from a single charge.

The SunSwift eVe covered 4 hours 40 minutes with an average speed of 107 km / h. This is much higher than the previous achievement for electric cars 73 km / h.

The developers of the electric car (the group includes about 60 students) believe that the experiment is proof that the car is ready for commercial use. The SunSwift project was organized in 1996. Over the years, the SunSwift eVe is the fifth car made by students, and this is clearly the most successful model.





Previous SunSwift models managed to set several world records for solar-powered cars. The fifth model swung a record for all electric cars. During the trip, the solar panels on the roof, hood and trunk were turned off. The car drove solely due to the charge in a 60-pound lithium-ion battery.

The creators of SunSwift are proud of the extremely high energy efficiency of the car. At a speed of 100 km / h, energy consumption is only 20 kWh. For comparison, the Tesla Model S consumes 67 kWh at a speed of 89 km / h.

EVe solar panels generate up to 800 watts. On a good sunny day, this adds about 300 km to the maximum distance from a single battery charge, so the car can travel 800 km instead of 500 km. This distance is enough for most people to drive daily. Moreover, many people park in places open to the sun, so that the batteries will be charged during the day.

According to experts , SunSwift eVe could be the first solar-powered car in the world to officially go into mass production. True, several problems still have to be solved, including equipping a comfortable place for the driver.


SunSwift eVe is not too comfortable right now

To get certified in 2015, engineers need to equip the car with headlights, increase ground clearance (clearance) and refine the interior, including making a dashboard, cup holders, a more convenient steering wheel and other options.