The University of Michigan Solar Car Team will unveil its newest solar-powered vehicle – a $2-million privately financed vehicle – on Saturday, July 14, at 3 p.m. in the Power Center.With a variety of design changes and some of the world’s best solar-cell technology, the Team is looking to compete for the World Solar Cup. The route for the World Solar Challenge runs 1800 miles from Darwin to Adelaide, straight through the outback in Australia.

This year’s car, Continuum, has an impressive legacy. Since General Motors founded and won the first World Solar Challenge in Australia in 1987, U-M has placed 3rd in the World Solar Challenge three times. Since 1990, the Team has won four of the eight North American Solar Challenges, more than any other university. The Team’s goal is to be the first American team since General Motors to place first in the world.  This race will begin on October 21st of this year.

The University of Michigan Solar Car Team includes 150 students, making it one of the largest student projects on campus. Team members are enrolled in the College of Engineering, but also the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, the Ross School of Business, the School of Art & Design, and the School of Education. This collaboration allows them to design, build, finance, market, and race one of the best solar cars in the world.

Two types of significant design changes can be seen on Continuum due to a variety of rules changes. One group of changes makes the cars more ergonomically fit for the driver:

• Driver must sit with their back at an angle greater than 26 degrees and may longer lie down in the car 
• Required use of a steering wheel
• Driver able to enter and exit the vehicle without assistance

The second includes rule changes that reduce the overall speed of the solar cars:

• Changes in driver seating position require changes in the chassis, increasing the frontal area of the solar cars and increasing the aerodynamic drag
• Decrease in solar array area from 9 square meters to 6 square meters

For those interested in how these changes have been integrated into the University of Michigan’s 9th generation vehicle, Continuum, the unveiling will be free and open to the public. A reception will follow.

The University of Michigan College of Engineering is ranked among the top engineering schools in the country. Michigan Engineering boasts one of the largest engineering research budgets of any public university, at more than $130 million. Michigan Engineering comprises 11 departments, supports University-wide energy and environmental initiatives, and houses various research centers and programs, including: nanotechnology and integrated microsystems; cellular and molecular biotechnology; and information technology. Michigan Engineering is seeking to raise $110 million for capital building projects and program support in these areas to further research discovery. Michigan Engineering's goal is to advance academic scholarship and market cutting - edge research to improve public health and well-being. For more information, see the Michigan Engineering home page: http://www.engin.umich.edu.