IVy Solar Car Breaks Speed Record

The challenging world of solar cars just got a bit more exciting recently, after a new land speed record for this type of vehicles was set at a navy base in New South Wales, Australia. The fastest solar powered vehicle is called IVy and the speed it managed to reach to earn its place in history is 88.8 km/h (55.2 mph).

The previous record stood at 78.3 km/h (48.6 mph) and was set in 1988 by GM's Sunraycer. According to CNN, the record was broken in the IVy by Barton Mawer and Craig Davis of Tesla Europe, the drivers selected by Sunswift to complete the task.

The car, if it can be called that, has been developed by Sunswift, the Solar Racing Team of the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The student-led, non-profit organization created a vehicle which is the same size as an average sedan but only half the length.

It is powered by solar panels made up of 400 silicon cells who allow it to keep on going as long as the sun is up on the sky. The solar panels have an output of 1300 watts. That's enough and not more, as its creators proudly say, to toast two pieces of bread.

In the past, the vehicle managed to complete a 3000 km race (1864 miles) from Darwin to Adelaide, proving that it is built to be as fast as it is resistant. Called World Solar Challenge, the race has been in the end won in 2009 by the IVy.

For more information about the project, follow this link.