Solar Car Team (University of Michigan) records, 1985-2009 (majority within 1989-2003)

Summary

Creator:

University of Michigan. Solar Car Team.

Abstract:

The Solar Car Team is an interdisciplinary student organization at the University of Michigan whose objectives are to design, finance, build and race a solar-powered vehicle from scratch. The collection documents the activities and experiences of several generations of the team, including team organization, design, fundraising, construction, testing and racing.

Extent:

23 linear feet
1 oversize volume
94104 digital records (4.06 GB 52.1 MB)

Language:

English

Call Number:

921120 Bimu 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by University Archives Staff

Background

Scope and Content:

The records of the various U-M Solar Car projects have been received in multiple accessions and are generally described by accession. Accessions are typically organized around specific vehicles, but do contain material carried over from previous cars and races reflecting the fact that students learned from and built on the work of previous teams. For this reason, researchers are advised to review all accessions. The records contain a wide variety of documentation on the design, building, financing and racing of the solar cars and administrative and project management records.

Records include group reports; topical files; and binders containing newsletters and bulletins, and administrative and technical information for the cars; also included are videocassettes detailing design, building, and racing of the Sunrunner solar-powered automobile; photographs and albums of snapshots of team members performing general team tasks and captures of the Solar Car Team website.

Biographical / Historical:

In November 1987, General Motors won the Australian World Solar Challenge, a two-day solar car race on public roads testing alternative-fuel vehicles, with its vehicle Sunraycer. In July 1990, rather than building another car, GM sponsored a race of its own, GM Sunrayce USA, in which 32 North American schools drove an eleven-day route from Florida to Michigan. The top three qualifiers were partially supported by GM to compete in the November 1990 World Solar Challenge, a 1,900-mile race through Australia.

The University of Michigan Solar Car Team formed in the spring of 1989 in response to GM's request for participants, and included students of engineering, business, art and journalism. The team's entry Sunrunner, designed, built and tested in 18 months, took first place in the GM Sunrayce, earning a spot in the World Solar Challenge. The team competed against 36 cars in Australia, including those of Japanese automakers and the faculty of the Swiss Engineering School of Biel. Sunrunner placed third overall and first among American entries.

The Sunrunner team carried out administrative and technical duties. Administrative groups managed finance, logistics and publicity. Technical groups were responsible for body structure (frame, suspension and steering), chassis (driveline: wheels, hubs, tires and brakes), exterior (vehicle shell and solar collection efficiency), interior (cockpit area, instrument panel and driver controls), power electronics (control subsystem, instrumentation, and telemetry), race strategy, and solar cells.

The second-generation Solar Car Team competed against 35 other North American colleges and universities in Sunrayce USA 93, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The seven-day race, held in June 1993, covered approximately 1,000 miles from Texas to Minnesota. University of Michigan's new entry Maize & Blue, finished in first place, securing the team's second national championship and the opportunity to compete again in the World Solar Challenge. The team came in 11th place out of more than 50 teams in Australia, after experiencing difficulties with Maize & Blue's solar array.

This team's structure differed from that of the original team. Students worked in eight project teams: Aerodynamics/Body, Business (Fundraising/Public Relations and Logistics/Finance), Chassis, Computers, Power Electronics, Race Strategy, Solar Cells and Systems/Engineering. Project teams were overseen by the project manager, faculty advisor and executive committee.

Development of Solar Vision began in 1993. It competed in Sunrayce 95, but was forced to withdraw after day four due to a serious accident on the road attributed to advanced technologies employed in Solar Vision's design.

The university continued its tradition of solar car racing with Wolverine, taking sixth place in Sunrayce 97; MaizeBlaze placing 17th in Sunrayce 99 and 9th place in the 1999 World Solar Challenge; M-Pulse, winning the 2001 American Solar Challenge and taking third place in the World Solar Challenge; SpectruM, was not able to compete in the 2003 American Solar Challenge or the World Solar Challenge 2003 due to mechanical problems that occurred during qualifying; Momentum, winning the 2005 North American Solar Challenge and placing third in the World Solar Challenge 2005; Continuum, which will compete in the 2007 World Solar Challenge in Australia. The tenth generation solar car Infinium 2009 was unveiled in June of 2009 and raced in the World Solar Challenge in October of 2009.

For information on the current team and its solar car, see: http://www.engin.umich.edu/solarcar/, available as of April 2009.

U of M Solar Cars

Date	Event
1990	Sunrunner
1993	Maize & Blue
1995	Solar Vision
1997	Wolverine
1999	MaizeBlaze
2001	M-Pulse
2003	SpectruM
2005	Momentum
2007	Continuum
2009	Infinium

Acquisition Information:

The record group was transferred from the Solar Car Team (Donor No. 8010 ) in a series of accessions beginning in 1992.

Accruals:

Periodic additions to the collection are expected.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:

Automobiles.
Solar cars.
Automobiles.
Solar cars.

Formats:

Photographs.
Videotapes.

Names:

University of Michigan. Solar Car Team.
University of Michigan -- Students.