Construction Completed on Tokai University's Solar Car Equipped with Sharp Solar Cells
Sharp Corporation held an event to announce the completion of Tokai University's solar car equipped with Sharp solar cells boasting the highest level of conversion efficiency in the world.*
A team from Tokai University will use this solar car in the Global Green Challenge, one of the world's largest solar car races, to be held from October 24 to 31, 2009.
The solar car category of the Global Green Challenge has vehicles powered only by the sun's energy traverse the Australian continent for a distance of about 3,000 km.
Tokai University drivers will include Kenjiro Shinozuka, who in 1997 became the first Japanese to achieve overall victory in the Paris to Dakar Rally, as well as Tokai University students and alumni.
- * As of September 7, 2009, for practical-application solar cells (Sharp survey).
<Tokai University's solar car equipped with Sharp solar cells>
From left: Executive Vice President Toshishige Hamano, driver Kenjiro Shinozuka, and Tokai University Vice Chancellor Yoshiaki Matsumae
Mr. Hamano outlines Sharp's solar cell business and gives encouragement to the team
Toshishige Hamano, Sharp Executive Vice President
Professor Hideki Kimura, Tokai University School of Engineering explains the team organization and details of the vehicle
The Tokai University Challenge Center Team's "Tokai Challenger" solar car, equipped with Sharp solar cells
The completed Tokai Challenger solar car
The press conference was held in an auditorium
Overview of the Global Green Challenge
- Race duration:
- October 24 to 31, 2009
- Race course:
- Darwin to Adelaide (distance of approx. 3,000 km), Australia
- Organized by:
- South Australian Motor Sport Board (established by the state government of South Australia)
- Web site:
- http://www.globalgreenchallenge.com.au/