Solar-Powered Race

When a solar car built by Dartmouth metits MIT counterpart at a New Hampshire racetrack for an exhibition in June, neither side claimed victory. The real race, the Tour de Sol, a 250-mile journey through Switzerland, was a few weeks away. Dartmouth and MIT were the only United States entries in a field of more than 100 cars. (The race had not yet finished as we were going to press.)

academic credit) and several staff members began designing the car in November. Although the project was based in the Thayer School, the body was designed and built in the Hopkins Center workshops. The team included biology, business and visual arts students.

Most observers at the racetrack seemed to agree that Dartmouth's car far exceeded the MIT vehicle in looks, if not efficiency. The Associated Press described Sunvox as "a prop out of a James Bond movie." MIT's version, the reporter wrote, looked more like a "Soap Box Derby entry."

Sunvox combines exotic and everyday technologies, including more than 3,200

photovoltaic cells, 21,000 dollars' worth of silver cadmium batteries, an onboard computer that continually calculates optimum speed, a motor designed for the Marine Corps, a transmission from a Norton motorcycle, and Avocet bicycle tires. "This is a far more, sophisticated system than anything I studied in class," said driver Dale Shidla '88.

The Swiss race, which is held annually, takes six days. The cars actually race only about two hours per day; the rest of the time is spent recharging batteries. Although the solar cars are capable of reaching 60 miles per hour, Swiss speed limits will hold them to 35.

Sunvox: Dartmouth's first solar car was one of two U.S. entries at the Tour De Sol.