Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Volts Wagon: Team Solar Motions' 1,000-watt car could break the land speed record for electric cars by reaching 100 mph.

Solar hotrod will fly to Australia, then take off for the future

By Jessica Lyons

Detroit may not be jumping on the bandwagon yet, but according to racing team Solar Motions president Martin Koebler, solar cars are the ride of the future.

To get a competitive edge on the market, Solar Motions has built a solar car, and now the team is racing the futuristic vehicle in the October Australian World Solar Car Challenge, the Super Bowl of solar car racing.

Powered on 1,000 watts--the same as some hair driers--"This car is designed to break the world speed rating [by reaching] 100 miles per hour," Koebler explained at Willow Glen's Applied Engineering on March 18.

"It will certainly be the best U.S. entry," he says. But that isn't enough for Koebler. In a field dominated by Japanese car manufacturers, "We want to bring home a trophy from Australia to show that America can compete in this arena," he says.

Now all the team needs is about $1.2 million in corporate funding. The highest contributor will receive naming rights to the car.

"It's frustrating, especially in Silicon Valley, with so many firms wanting to be environmentally conscious, we haven't had any response." While Solar Motions is aiming for $1.2 million, even $20 donations help, Koebler says. To donate to Solar Motions, check out www.solarmotions.com.

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