This time, Cal is determined to outshine Stanford. The last time the two solar rivals faced off in 2005, CalSol raced its car, the Beam Machine, across 2,500 miles in 68.5 hours, only to take second in its class just behind Stanford. “Our goal this year,” says team lead, ME junior Lawrence Burkart, “is to win.”

The 2008 North American Solar Challenge starts July 13 and runs eight days. Cal will be one of 25 college teams racing a self-designed, self-built car along a route that goes from Dallas, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Much like the Tour de France, teams race their cars in timed stages. On a sunny day, drivers often top 75 miles per hour. The team clocking the fastest cumulative time wins.

Since its close finish in 2005, much has changed. The Beam Machine group has moved on. Burkart, himself new, leads a fresh crop of 25 members, divided into mechanical and electrical teams.

The competition’s rules have also changed. Drivers must now sit at a 27-degree angle in their cars instead of reclining flat to make it a more realistic configuration. That means completely new designs from years past.

CalSol spent much of last year attacking the aerodynamics of the driver’s seat and says it’s 80 percent done with its design. The result is a car that “will look like a mini Stealth Bomber,” explains Burkart. “We needed to keep it as flat as possible because the solar cells absorb the best when the sun is shining right on them.”

Unlike the Beam Machine, CalSol’s new car (as yet unnamed) has three wheels instead of four, saving money and weight.

“Weight is key,” Burkart explains. “In fact, we went a little crazy on weight reduction in the computer design. Then we looked at it and realized we couldn’t machine it so we had to make some adjustments and be realistic. But overall we’re really happy with the design. It’s pretty cool and innovative. And no other car will have the suspension we have.”

Within the next few weeks, the team will begin construction. Over winter break, they hope to finish molding the shells and building the suspension system. In January, they plan to build the chassis, then attach the suspension and steering. In early March, the team hopes to install the electrical system and solar arrays. If all goes well, they’ll be testing the car by the end of April.

To get there, though, CalSol needs to overcome its biggest challenge: funding. Members have raised about $30,000 but need $50,000 more to cover the cost of building the car.

Even so, the team is determined. “We’re going to build this car come hell or high water,” says ME junior Aaron Chang.

Join now! http://www.me.berkeley.edu/calsol/index.php