Students Gear Up for the American Solar Challenge

Students across the country are getting ready to spend 8 days travelling the country in a solar car that’s taken months to design. The annual American Solar Challenge starts at the end of this month, and showcases the amazing talent of collegiate teams across the country. Dating back almost three decades, the Innovators Educational Foundation has created solar events to promote the benefits and advantages of utilizing solar technology. Not only does the IEF aim to create awareness around solar power, but also fosters the development of student’s creative and technological education.

The race starts in Brecksville, OH and will travel through 7 different states. This year, the American Solar Challenge is partnering with the National Park Service to celebrate their 2016 centennial, and will integrate nine stops at national parks during the competition. Students end their voyage in Hot Springs, SD after traveling across over 1800 miles of terrain.

Many of the cars created for this race have been designed to only seat one, and don’t include modern conveniences like air conditioning or even a radio. Specifications are set down to every last detail; from the type of solar cell that is acceptable, to battery enclosures and power switches, each vehicle must meet specific regulations.

The key to winning the race extends far beyond building a car or working with your team. The point of the race is to truly understand the energy emitted from the sun’s rays and how it will convert into power in the most effective way possible. From the angle of the panels to the way the power is stored and converted, even to the cooling elements of the vehicle, students must have a firm grasp on solar energy and how to utilize it.

Not only does this event encourage the development of solar usage in younger generations, but it integrates this information into a region wide event and brings national media attention from across the country. Even those who aren’t knowledgeable of the ins and outs of solar energy can be exposed to its enormous power each year the ASC comes to town.