American plans commuter powered by sun

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 29

American plans commuter powered by sun

By

CATHERINE ARNST

NZPA-Reuter Cambridge, Massachusetts He is aged only 22, but James Worden has already built seven solar-powered cars, the first when he was 16.

Now in his final year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr Worden expects to start mass-producing and selling a two-seater “commuter car” in 18 months.

Mr Worden and his racing model, the Solectria, are at present starring in a television commercial for Dow Chemical, his principal backer. He is also preparing a completely new model, the Galaxy, with a wedge-shaped aluminium body that resembles a miniature jet fighter. The Galaxy will be finished in about a month and Mr Worden says it will operate on solar power alone, with no boosting batteries, and a speed of 84km . That would be enough to break the solar land speed record of 78km/h set by General Motors last year. Mr Worden entered an upgraded Solectria in a 400 km, four-day race from Montpelier, Vermont, to the M.I.T. campus in Cambridge, near Boston — the first American Tour de Sol. The race, modelled after the Swiss Tour de Sol, the preeminent event of the solar world, is in its fifth year. The Swiss race attracts more than 120 participants from around the world. Mr Worden has raced in it three times, and was placed twelfth last year. The American Tour de Sol, like its Swiss cousin, is a rally event, with two hours of actual road time each day and the rest of the day spent on recharging bateries and maintenance. The M.I.T. team was favoured to win, thanks to Mr Worden’s years of experience building and racing the non-polluting vehicles. Last September his Solectria V won the first solar car race held in North America, taking three hours and five minutes to cover a 257 km course in California. “It is a lot like driving a Formula One racing car,” Mr Worden said of the Solectria as he unveiled his newest model, the VI, to the press. It resembles a kart, but the fragile-looking vehicle can go at speeds of up to 145 km/h while using a power system that generates only 10 horse power.

The Solectria raced in the Tour de Sol weighs about 135 kg and measures 4m by 1.7 m by 0.7 m.

Its rectangular-shaped surface is covered with solar cells and the energy they gather is stored in a specially designed battery that is about twice the size of a car battery. Mr Worden said the car could run for about 320 to 480 km without sun.

The design is a model of efficiency, and Mr Worden said he was particularly proud of the rather minute power train. “That was the most fun to design,” he said of his engine, transmission and other mechanical parts that transfer power to the wheels. To conserve energy when going down hills, electricity is sent back to the battery whenever pressure is applied to the brakes.

“It handles pretty well,” said Mr Worden, “and it is really more comfortable than it looks.” He acknowledges that solar racing cars are not the answer to the world’s energy problems, but says he is hoping that the publicity his Solectria attracts will make it easier for him to sell a more practical solar car for commuters.