Power Integrations’ Solar-Powered Car Triumphs in World Challenge

Team αCentauri Completes the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Team αCentauri, part-sponsored by Power Integrations, has successfully completed the grueling 3,022km Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia. Despite being the 12th and final finisher, the team's achievement is commendable considering the number of teams that failed to finish or even start the race.

Power Integrations played a crucial role in supporting the team, not only through cash sponsorship but also by providing a Power Integrations InnoSwitch3 fly-back converter. This converter powered various low-voltage loads in the solar car, including the steering wheel control, battery telemetry, CAN bus, lights, and horn.

The race took place from 8am to 5pm each day, starting in Darwin and stopping at nine check-points en-route to the finish line in Adelaide. Team αCentauri, hailing from ETH Zurich, showcased their impressive solar car throughout the challenge.

The car features 4m2 of single-crystal silicon solar panels, enabling it to reach speeds of 75-80km/h without relying on the batteries. When sunlight is not available, the batteries can propel the car for over 400km at 60km/h. With a weight of 188kg, the vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 120km/h.

The electronics in the car include an inverter for the motor and a maximum power point tracker for the solar cells. Additionally, there is a steering wheel module that controls lighting, cameras, horn, and ventilation, as well as a data logger to monitor performance.

Most of the body parts of the car are made from carbon-fibre reinforced polymer, ensuring durability and lightweight construction. The canopy, however, is made from glass-fibre reinforced polymer to maintain transparency for the Bluetooth communication link.

For more information about Team αCentauri, you can visit their official website. To learn more about the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, visit the official event website.

The photo with mountains in the background was taken at Waffenplatz Thun in Switzerland during final testing before transport to Darwin.