Racing with the sun!

Solar Car Challenge - Sunday, 25 June 2017

The Cyprus Institute organizes the Solar Car Challenge 2017 for the 8th consecutive year, on Sunday, 25 June. The event is co-organized with the Municipality of Nicosia. Organizers and contestants aspire to offer you a spectacular experience passing the message that the environmentally friendly technology is our future for a green planet.

The custom-made solar vehicles will race each other on the public roads of the Nicosia city center: Stasikratous Str., Spyrou Kyprianou Ave., Georgiou Griva Digeni Ave., Dimostheni Severi Ave., and Vasilissis Freiderikis Str.. The amazing designs to be presented, offer an one-time experience to spectators, aiming to promote research and innovation in the use of solar energy. The participants, teams from all cities of Cyprus, design and build their solar-powered vehicles. This year it is expected to have the highest participation, 13 solar cars racing in the center of the capital. 

We had the opportunity to speak and ask Dr. Aris Bonanos, Assistant Professor, of the Energy Environment and Water Research Center of the Cyprus Institute, a few things about The Solar Car Challenge. 

What are you aiming as Cyl from this and what is your involvement?
The Solar Car Challenge is organized by the Cyprus Institute. It is an annual event, first organized in 2010 with the purpose to make the public more aware of renewable energy technologies, engage society and students in science and engineering related activities, and promote the concept of electric vehicles and alternative fuels for transportation. 
I am involved in the organizing and technical committee, making sure all cars meet safety and technical specifications to be able to compete.

Who are the participants? 
Participants are either technical schools, companies, or groups of individuals interested in solar energy powered vehicles. All apply their creativity and ingenuity to come up with unique and competitive designs for their vehicles. It is very rewarding as an organizer to see the range of designs and pirde of the teams for their individual vehicles, along with the innovations they introduce to their vehicles each year to make them more competitive. 

What is the cost?
Although there are several solar car races globally, ours has some particularities that make it unique. Among others, is the cost of the vehicles, which is limited to 20k euro. Considering that in the top international races the vehicle cost is about 1 million euro, and that typically the cars participating in our race cost much less than the limit, this highlights how the technology has matured and is suitable for Cyprus.

What is their highest speed?
Each vehicle is different, but some of our participants may exceed speeds of 100 km/h in their vehicles. Average speeds during the race are 40-50 km/h.

How is the level of participation? 
Every year the Solar Car Challenge is growing: this year we have 13 participants, up from 10 last year, and we have increased interest from the press and the local community. Our aim is to enhance the race in the future, to make it more appealing to spectators, but also more competitive for the participants, and to make it an international race, attracting teams from abroad to come and compete. 

What is the purpose/usage of these cars? 
The cars participating are specifically designed for the race. They are not certified as road vehicles.
We are facilitators, our aim is not to put the cars on the road, rather to demonstrate that the technology is mature so that decision makers can consider this type of transportation as an option.

The program on the day of the race on Sunday, 25 June 2017, is as follows:

10:00 - Start Time at Spyrou Kyprianou Str. and Stasikratous Str.
10:00 – 12:00: Live Ling at the Parking of Electricity Authority, Foti Pitta Str.
13:00 - Finish Time
13:30 - Solar Cars Parade to Nicosia Town Hall
14:00 - Award Ceremony at the Nicosia Town Hall

The race is open for everyone to watch, so take your family and friends and support with your presence this unique event, where the sun is the only fuel.