U of M Solar Car Team to Race Across the Country

The University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project team is gearing up for a race across the country.

The 2012 American Solar Challenge is a 1,600-mile race starting in Rochester, N.Y., and ending in St. Paul. It runs from July 14-21.

The U of M is competing against 17 other teams from the U.S. and Canada. The car, which is powered by the sun, was designed and built by the U of M team. Each part was custom-designed by the students.

The U of M’s solar car won first place at the 2011 American Solar Challenge’s Formula Sun Grand Prix track race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team’s new car is called Centaurus III and has improved aerodynamics and electrical technology, according to a statement from the university.

For more information on the history of the university’s Solar Vehicle Project team and photos of the previous cars, visit umnsvp.org.

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