Australia’s leading solar car comes to town in search of a world record
AURORA-RMIT 101 to demonstrate solar technology 13,000 kms around Australia

After setting a new Darwin to Adelaide record for Australian solar cars, Aurora-RMIT has set its sights on world records for long-distance and day-distance solar driving.

For its latest challenge, Aurora will set out on 27 December 2001, on a 23-day round-Australia journey, taking the nation's leading solar car technology to capital cities, regional and country towns, and remote outposts.

Aurora-RMIT 101, the Australian team which won the World Championship in 1999 and placed second in the 2001 World Solar Challenge - wants to give Australians a glimpse into a solar cell future. It plans to deliver its message of greenhouse gas reduction, Victorian lead technology, young Australian ingenuity and conservation of non-renewable energy sources, directly to the Australian community.

By driving a solar powered car with zero emissions, 13,000 kms around Australia, the Aurora-RMIT team will become the first solar-powered car to circumnavigate a continent.

Behind the project is the Aurora Vehicle Association Inc, a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing highly efficient vehicles, which address two of the world's most pressing problems - global warming and diminishing fossil fuel resources. Aurora joined with Melbourne’s RMIT University in 2001, to design, develop and build the Aurora-RMIT 101 solar race car.

Rising world oil prices and adverse global effects attributed to greenhouse gas emissions, have increased pressure on researchers to develop technologies that will enable solar power to become a practical source of renewable energy. Interest in the Australian Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car is seen as part of the global search to find these technological breakthroughs. Collaborative efforts between research centres, supportive businesses, government and industry, are seen as excellent ways of promoting "green" technology and encouraging young science and technology students.

Driving in day-light hours only, sitting just 25 cms above the road in a 4.5 x 2-metre vehicle equipped with a camel-back water flask but without a steering wheel, solar car driver Tony Vriens hopes to cover 600 kms a day, before attempting a world record day trip of 1,000 kms*.

Sporting a raft of highly efficient galium-arsenide solar cells to convert sunlight into the electric power which drives the vehicle's single front wheel, the Aurora team plans to break the day record between Norseman (WA) and the Yalata Roadhouse (SA) on 15 January. Asked how it feels to drive Aurora, Tony Vriens says: "It's like looking out of a motor cycle helmet, with good vision all around, driving by feel and senses alone."

But he adds it’s not all fun: "The reality of driving a solar car is a lot more boring than most people imagine it to be - temperatures are up to 10 degrees above outside air temperatures, and the only air-flow-cooling the driver comes into the car from directly above the road surface." "The sensation of speed is enhanced by the driver's low position to the ground," he says. "It's like a stingray flying over the desert."

The vehicle will travel at legal speed limits - which for Aurora is slow. This particular Aurora vehicle's only previous open road driving has been in the 2001 World Solar Challenge (a 3,010 km Stuart Highway event from Darwin to Adelaide, competing against 38 entries from 11 countries) - where maximum speeds of 120 kph were reached within the regulations. Aurora-RMIT 101 crossed the finish line on 22 November in second place, with an average speed of 90.26 kph, behind a superb new solar car team from Delft University in Holland. Both teams broke the 89.8 kph race record for the event set in 1996 by Honda.

* The current world record is 813 km in a day, set by the Dutch team in the 2001 WSC, breaking Honda's 1993 record of 802 km.

Australia organised and hosted the world’s first competitive solar car race in 1987 – the 3,010 km Darwin to Adelaide World Solar Challenge – which attracted 25 entrants from 8 countries. This event triggered similar races in the USA and Japan, and championship events are now being planned in Southern Africa and Malaysia. Australia won the World Solar Challenge in 1999 with the vehicle known as Aurora 10l, which beat 42 other challengers from 11 countries, finishing 30 minutes ahead of its nearest rival. The 2001 event attracted 12 Australian entries in the total of 38 from 11 countries.

The development of Aurora-RMIT 101 has found backing among Australian research institutes keen to encourage innovation and the refinement of existing technology. Over 60 Australian companies, with and without automotive and energy interests, are increasingly supportive of Aurora and what it stands for. The international law firm, Minter Ellison, car manufacturer Ford Australia, and the Victorian Government are foundation backers of the project; CSIRO developed the in-wheel electric motor, which drives the vehicle's front wheel, and Melbourne's RMIT University has researched optimal design and aerodynamics technology.

The 2001/2002 Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car cost an estimated $600,000 in terms of both cash and 'in-kind' support. Contributions to Aurora ranged from large contributions and offers of technical expertise, to individual participation through a RACV-backed scheme in which people put their name on a solar car cell for just $30.

Planned rest and overnight stops (in alphabetical order) on the Aurora-RMIT 12,000 km Round Australia Journey:

Adelaide, Ballarat, Barry Caves RH, Billabong RH, Bowen, Brisbane, Broome, Bulahdelah, Caiguna, Camooweal, Carnarvon, Cataby, Ceduna, Clareview, Coolgardie, Dunmarra, Fitzroy Crossing, Geraldton, Gin Gin, Glenrowan, Gympie, Halls Creek, Holbrook, Homestead, Horsham, Hughenden, Julia Creek, Katherine, Keith, Kempsey, Kununurra, Kyancutta, Mackay, Mataranka, Melbourne , Merridin, Minilya Roadhouse, Mittagong, Mt Isa, Mundrabilla, Nanutarra RH, Norseman, Perth, Port Augusta, Port Hedland, Rockhampton, Roebourne, Sandfire RH, Sth Grafton, Three Ways Roadhouse, Timber Creek, Townsville, Turkey Creek, Tweed Heads, Victoria River, Willare RH, Wyong, Yalata Roadhouse, Yass.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the car's visit to your town:
Andrew Lamb
0409 856 478 03-9647 2742

Aurora Vehicle Association Inc c/- Minter Ellison, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia
t. +61 3 8608 2889 f. +61 3 8608 1000 m. +61 (0)411 250 464 e. david.fewchuk@minterellison.com

Aurora activities originated in 1980. Aurora competed in the Shell fuel mileage marathon, won the event five times and established three consecutive world records.

Subsequently, the group turned to the design and build of solar cars, which have competed in the World Solar challenge since its inception in 1987.

Major milestones in Aurora’s history are as follows:

Aurora Vehicle Association Inc c/- Minter Ellison, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia
t. +61 3 8608 2889 f. +61 3 8608 1000 m. +61 (0)411 250 464 e. david.fewchuk@minterellison.com

Aurora’s Extended Influence

Aurora is the vehicle entered in the World Solar Challenge by the Melbourne based, not for profit, volunteer organisation, Aurora Vehicle Association Inc. It is an independent group with 25/50 members from all walks of life, committed to the pursuit of alternatively powered transportation.

Dramatic developments in solar technology have brought many changes to the original Aurora, built in 1986. Over the 13 years of the World Solar Challenge, Aurora has consistently been the leading Australian team (ahead of expensive works entries from the world’s car companies), setting 3 world records before taking the Winner’s Trophy in 1999.

The dedicated Aurora team of volunteers has also pioneered and has been responsible for:

• Setting up of at least three of Australia’s ten other solar car teams.

• Assisting the establishment of two successful solar boat teams, the Incat and Solar Sailor.

• Supporting the inaugural winner in 1999 of the World Solar Bike Challenge.

• Pioneering in 1993 the ideal solar vehicle shape, which most international teams have now adopted, moving them away from the cockroach shape.

• Actively encouraging students and undergraduates to work on the development of the race car as part of their vacation scholarship, work experience qualification and degree thesis. At least 20 young men and women have been involved in the development of the car, and subsequently have moved on to further studies, into jobs with industry and consultants, and the Navy.

• Introduced John Hoerner to solar car events in 1993, when he was Aurora’s initial publicist. John Hoerner has since gone on to design and manage the annual Australian SunRace, now in its 5^th year.

• Introduced Whirlpool to solar car events such that they went on to being the naming sponsor of the 2000 SunRace.

• Co-developed with CSIRO the most efficient wheel motor used in solar car design, which CSIRO have commercially developed for sale to six other teams. Howard Lovatt of CSIRO, an Aurora team member, has had a leading role in the wheel motor design and has gone on to develop the hybrid power train used in the Concept Car II project.

Aurora Vehicle Association Inc c/- Minter Ellison, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia
t. +61 3 8608 2889 f. +61 3 8608 1000 m. +61 (0)411 250 464 e. david.fewchuk@minterellison.com

The Aurora Vehicle Association Inc. is a non-profit body dedicated to developing highly efficient vehicles that demonstrate what can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save non-renewable energy sources. Its members are unpaid volunteers of remarkable skill, enthusiasm and experience. Over 20 years of activity, Aurora has established six world records in both energy efficiency and solar powered transportation.

Over 100 companies and organisations have supported Aurora activities since 1993; as a result, Aurora has risen in prominence amongst the public both in Australia and overseas and is now the most clearly recognised name of solar car development. In 1999, Aurora won the World Championship for such cars and in 2001 finished second in the World Solar Challenge, averaging 90.26 kph and breaking the long-standing event record set by Honda in 1996.

How does Aurora work?

The Aurora Vehicle Association Inc has no paid members - it undertakes much of the work in developing projects, vehicle construction, events and appearances with volunteers. The 2001/02 Aurora program requires about 16,000 hours of volunteer time. Aurora is partnered by Melbourne's RMIT University and many team members are students at RMIT. Some undertake thesis projects based around Aurora technologies.

Aurora is sponsored by many companies and organisations, which provide financial and in-kind support. Some 56 sponsors are backing Aurora's program for 2001/02.

The Aurora Vehicle Association is incorporated in Victoria, Australia and has approximately 60 members. Since 1987, Aurora has constructed three families of solar cars. Several of these have been passed on to start other solar car teams and Aurora has assisted two solar boat teams in their technology development.

Aurora maintains an office in Melbourne and a workshop in Clayton, a suburb of Melbourne. It also has an active Internet site at www.aurorasolarcar.com.

Maintaining Aurora's Technical Credentials.

Underpinning most of Aurora's extensive Australian and International profile has been a consistency of achievement in the World Solar Challenge and the achievements in long journeys. The technology improvements incorporated in the 2001/02 program have delivered the 20% gain versus 1999 as planned.

The Aurora-RMIT 101 team intends to establish itself as the best solar car team ever. Aurora-RMIT 101 has completed its first major event in the 2001/02 program. It finished in second place in the 2001 World Solar Challenge, averaging 90.26 kph and breaking the record set by Honda in 1996 of 89.8 kph.

Through 2002, the team will:

- undertake a circumnavigation of Australia

- compete in the 2002 Sunrace

- attempt to break a number of records set by both Honda (Japan) and Biel (Switzerland) teams.

The International Growth of Solar Car Events.

The enthusiasm for solar car events has been spearheaded by Australia. The first competitive event - the World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide – was inaugurated in 1987, making it the longest distance race event - 3,010 km - and the first to create an open technology (unrestricted) classification.

The inaugural event was eagerly anticipated around the world by universities, colleges and big car manufacturers – as evidenced by 25 entries from eight countries competing in 1987. By 1999, the World Solar Challenge attracted 42 contenders from 11 countries. In 2001, Australia will enter a total of 9 solar cars in the November race – mostly university sponsored – except for Aurora, which is entered by a group of volunteers backed by committed supporters and based in Melbourne.

Whilst demonstrating to the world the potential of solar powered transportation, the events also spur research into electric drive efficiency and the use of renewable energy. As the political importance of greenhouse abatement

issues and the quest for technological superiority in the alternative energy field has grown, so has the sport and the number of events around the world.

Following the Australian initiative in 1987, solar car races are now held around the world.

20 years of rapid expansion in solar vehicle technology has produced tangible results in the automotive industry. Since 2000, the commercial marketplace has seen at least four hybrid and electric cars introduced by the major car manufacturers, using technology similar to their technology in solar vehicles.

How much energy.

Single seat solar cars have up to eight square metres of solar cells on their upper surface. Aurora now uses space grade Galium Arsenide solar cells similar to those used on the famous Mars Lander Program.

Even with these, the power generated is little more than the household toaster. It is vital that all of the solar car be designed efficiently.

A toaster develops 1200 watts of power. Medium toast takes 3 minutes to cook. The energy to do this would be enough to drive Aurora 6 kilometres.

People ask: when will we see solar cars we can buy? Probably not for a long time. However the rang of technical features packed into Aurora includes some which will see their way into production. For example: direct drive high efficiency electric wheel motors, regenerative brakes, superb aero dynamics, light and efficient batters and low rolling resistance tyres. Solar power will be common in stationary applications and could rival the cost of conventional power generation.

Aurora Vehicle Association Inc c/- Minter Ellison, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia
t. +61 3 8608 2889 f. +61 3 8608 1000 m. +61 (0)411 250 464 e. david.fewchuk@minterellison.com

Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car specifications and recent improvements.

Aurora-RMIT 101 solar car specifications and recent improvements (cont’d).

1. Reconfiguration to "cut-out class".

Event rules allow for adding overall length to compensate for the area taken by the driver access hatch. This has allowed Aurora to gain solar energy because solar cells are more favourably oriented to sunlight.

2. Weight reduction.

The new solar array with lightweight ladder structure, lightweight encapsulation, lower weight batteries, smaller telemetry unit and elimination of supplementary solar panels has achieved a 30 kg weight reduction. This reduces energy use on hill climbs and on acceleration.

3. Higher solar power output.

The new solar panel has overcome power losses due to delamination of the previous panel built in 1996. New solar cells in the 21-22% efficiency range have been used, sourced from Tecstar Inc in the USA. Gochermann Solar Technology has done construction of the solar panels, the leading German specialists in this field. A solar panel output of 1500 watts has been achieved.

4. Lithium-ion battery technology.

Aurora has adopted Lithium-ion batteries from SAFT in France, replacing the silver zinc batteries used previously. Lithium-ion has higher efficiency and energy density at similar weight.

5. Efficiency improvement in solar trackers.

Aurora has worked with AERL to achieve over 97% efficiency in these units, up from the 93% achieved previously. This increases the amount of solar energy reaching the wheel motor.

6. New structural design of wheel motor.

Artimech has redesigned the wheel motors to include cast magnesium housings supplied by QMI/CAST, new axles, bearings and electrical connections. This has improved the motor stability, provided a continuous wheel rim and improved durability

Aurora Vehicle Association Inc c/- Minter Ellison, Rialto Towers, 525 Collins St, Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia
t. +61 3 8608 2889 f. +61 3 8608 1000 m. +61 (0)411 250 464 e. david.fewchuk@minterellison.com