PAST AND PRESENT

Although Solstice was built in 2005, solar car technology brings together elements of the archaic and the modern. From a technological point of view, the solar car is representative of the most current, top-of-the-line technologies: solar cells, high-efficiency motors and components, composites, wireless data streaming, the list could go on. However, its method of energy collection is representative of one that nature has used for millennia. Only modern humans use coal and oil, earth's natural resources, as a means to provide useable energy, whereas natural beings (plants, wildlife, early humans), receive all of their energy from the sun's rays. The tertiary levels of the food chain collect solar energy, transmitting this energy to the primary and secondary ecological levels. The solar cell mimics this biological collection of energy by converting solar energy from photons into electrical energy, which can be used to power a car (or a house for that matter).

The duality between old and new makes the solar cell an extremely interesting technology. Most people agree that the power of photovoltaic systems is in their ability to convert energy without creating harmful by-products (i.e. clean energy); however, I would like to argue that this positive criticism is grounded in the fact that solar cells are mimicries of a biological system, and that fact is what inherently makes them a "clean" energy source.

THE FUTURE OF ENERGY

Does this car represent the future? As I said before, the car is manufactured using the most current techniques and materials. The future of the earth's energy sources is in question, and solar energy is a candidate to replace oil. The forward thinking of university solar car teams and their sponsors has pushed the technology from its infancy in the 1980's, showing what can be done with a few thousand watts and a set of wheels.

This begs the question; will solar energy be the automotive way of the future? I would argue no, at least not in its current form or without supplementation from other energy sources (hybridization). The reason being, it would take the array power of 50 Solstice's to power a normal passenger car (this amount of solar cells would cover a few houses). Also, although cells are not yet operational at their theoretical maximum efficiency (limited by the colors of light they can absorb), the efficiency will never be able to exceed around 75% (reducing the number of Solstice's arrays needed to power a normal car to 13). Therefore, the current photovoltaic technology will not be sufficient to power a passenger car without the aid of other energy sources and hybridization.

LIFE-CYCLE

Time also factors into the life cycle of a solar car. Because solar car races run on a two-year cycle, a new solar car is built every two years (varies from school to school). The design concepts for Solstice began in 2003, and the car raced in the summer of 2005. These cars, because they are designed for efficiency, have a very short lifespan.

The average solar car can last through about 2000 miles without needing an overhaul of the electrical system, and 4000 miles without needing an overhaul of the mechanical systems (judging by Solstice's performance). The mechanical parts especially are what keep the team from racing a car a second time, as stresses arise in the chassis and suspension components. After a race, the car is then "retired" and used for teaching the community about renewable energy.

These cars follow a cycle of rebirth and death, cycling between manufacture, the harsh and treacherous race environment, and the more laidback lifestyle of an exhibition piece. Each stage of the car's life is very distinct: during manufacture and testing, the car is generally kept secret, away from the public's eye; during the race, the car becomes a public figure, a hero fighting for it's place; during retirement, the car is used to teach and showcase, but is rarely driven.

A solar car is almost never destroyed. This is due to the fact that a small group of students consumed countless hours in the conception of the car, and this attachment to the car is passed down through generations of team members. The cars are also generally worth a lot of money (Solstice = $500,000, University of Michigan's car = $2,000,000). The car then becomes somewhat of an heirloom to subsequent teams, which can be used as an example to design future cars, or serve as a symbol of where the team has been and where it is going. It is a source of pride and achievement, especially if the car does well in the race.

Old solar cars are also scavenged when building the new, either due to lack of funds and parts, or because something worked well and did not need to be redone. The best example of this act of scavenging is in the motor: Stanford's last motor was used in three different cars before buying a new one during the construction of Solstice. This scavenging renders the older cars immobile, while allowing for the mobility of the newer cars.