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The Tokai Challenger, Japan’s entrant this year, crossed the finish line first at 2010’s South African Solar Challenge - and set a record.
The 10-day race started on Thursday September 23 and finished on Saturday October 2. It was described as "one of the world's toughest alternative energy races".
Travelling 4061km on solar energy, Japan's Tokai University’s 162kg solar panels-powered car set a record for the event.
The Tokai Challenger had a similar victory at the Solar Challenge in 2008 and at the recent Australian Global Green Challenge with a run of over more than 3000km at an average speed of 100.54km/h.
Emphasising benefits
Professor Hideki Kimura, project leader and a member of Tokai University’s School of Engineering said: “The South African Solar Challenge with its race distance of more than 4000km and an elevation difference of 1700m can easily be described as the toughest solar race in the world.”
The race was organised to emphasise the benefits of environmentally friendly technologies and to give students from a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to gain valuable experience.
A Pretoria team travelled 1845km for the event – a record for a South African team.
An alternative energy record was set by the University of Johannesburg in a car powered by both petrol and hydrogen. It covered 1845.4km.
'Such a gruelling event'
Teams entering the Solar Challenge can go for one of two categories - the Challenge Class and the Adventure category. The Challenge Class has very strict criteria and covers all solar-powered vehicles. The Adventure class is open to all road vehicles using alternative-fuel technologies, not only solar power.
Kimura-san said: “As this race was such a gruelling event I believe it was the best possible opportunity for the students to learn about technology, engineering and the environment. I'm sure these students will introduce major environmentally friendly technological innovations to the automotive industry in the near future.”
Supporting the driver and crew of the Tokai Challenger were Toyota Prius vehicles supplied by Toyota SA. The Tokai Challenger’s main driver was Kenjiro Shinozuka, the first Japanese racing driver to win a World Rally championship event and Dakar desert race.
The vehicles travelled to Cape Town, stopping in Bloemfontein and Beaufort West during stage one. Stage two saw the teams travel from Stellenbosch to Pretoria, via George, Grahamstown, Kokstad, Richards Bay and Badplaas.
The 10-day race started on Thursday September 23 and finished on Saturday October 2. It was described as "one of the world's toughest alternative energy races".
Travelling 4061km on solar energy, Japan's Tokai University’s 162kg solar panels-powered car set a record for the event.
The Tokai Challenger had a similar victory at the Solar Challenge in 2008 and at the recent Australian Global Green Challenge with a run of over more than 3000km at an average speed of 100.54km/h.
Emphasising benefits
Professor Hideki Kimura, project leader and a member of Tokai University’s School of Engineering said: “The South African Solar Challenge with its race distance of more than 4000km and an elevation difference of 1700m can easily be described as the toughest solar race in the world.”
The race was organised to emphasise the benefits of environmentally friendly technologies and to give students from a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to gain valuable experience.
A Pretoria team travelled 1845km for the event – a record for a South African team.
An alternative energy record was set by the University of Johannesburg in a car powered by both petrol and hydrogen. It covered 1845.4km.
'Such a gruelling event'
Teams entering the Solar Challenge can go for one of two categories - the Challenge Class and the Adventure category. The Challenge Class has very strict criteria and covers all solar-powered vehicles. The Adventure class is open to all road vehicles using alternative-fuel technologies, not only solar power.
Kimura-san said: “As this race was such a gruelling event I believe it was the best possible opportunity for the students to learn about technology, engineering and the environment. I'm sure these students will introduce major environmentally friendly technological innovations to the automotive industry in the near future.”
Supporting the driver and crew of the Tokai Challenger were Toyota Prius vehicles supplied by Toyota SA. The Tokai Challenger’s main driver was Kenjiro Shinozuka, the first Japanese racing driver to win a World Rally championship event and Dakar desert race.
The vehicles travelled to Cape Town, stopping in Bloemfontein and Beaufort West during stage one. Stage two saw the teams travel from Stellenbosch to Pretoria, via George, Grahamstown, Kokstad, Richards Bay and Badplaas.
