University of Michigan Solar Car Team

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The University of Michigan Solar Car Team is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It is one of the most successful solar car teams in North America, having won the North American Solar Challenge (NASC) four times. The team has also placed third in the World Solar Challenge (WSC) three times. Four of its former vehicles are on display in museums in the United States.

Contents 1 Composition and history 2 Vehicles by year 3 Publications 4 External links

[edit] Composition and history

Founded in 1989, the Solar Car Team is one of the largest and most successful student projects at the University. Although it draws heavily on undergraduate students from the College of Engineering, students from any academic discipline or year of study are allowed to join the team. Students have also come from the College of LS&A, the Ross School of Business, and the School of Art & Design.

After 1993's races, all projects have run on a 2-year cycle. During those two years, the team is typically comprised of anywhere from 100 to 200 (or more) students. The vast majority of these students volunteer their time freely, although a small percentage opt to receive credit via the University's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (or UROP). A race crew of approximately 20 students is selected to race the vehicle in competition. These students' function is similar to that of a pit crew in professional auto racing.

[edit] Vehicles by year

• 1990: Sunrunner - GM Sunrayce: 1st place; WSC: 3rd place. On permanent display at The Henry Ford.
• 1993: Maize & Blue - Sunrayce USA: 1st place; WSC: 11th place. On permanent display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.
• 1995: Solar Vision - GM Sunrayce: DNF (did not finish). On permanent display at the Great Lakes Science Center.
• 1997: Wolverine - GM Sunrayce: 6th place.
• 1999: MaizeBlaze - GM Sunrayce: 17th place; WSC: 9th place. On permanent display at the Boston Museum of Science.
• 2001: M-Pulse - ASC: 1st place; WSC: 3rd place.
• 2003: Spectrum - ASC: DNQ (did not qualify)
• 2005: Momentum - NASC: 1st place; WSC: 3rd place.
• 2007: Continuum - Under construction

[edit] Publications

The team has been featured in the following local, national, and international media:

• IEEE Spectrum: "Sun Kings Cross the Outback." G. Zorpette, Feb 2002, pp 40-46.
• Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International
• MSNBC (2005) 1,2, 3
• NHRA article (2006): Grubnic compares kinetics with the U. of Michigan solar car team
• Cars.com
• Clean Edge News
• Russian Automobile magazine
• The Oakland Press
• Lakeshore Weekly News
• The Post and Courier (Charleston, South Carolina)
• U-M News Service
• University Record online

[edit] External links

• UMSolar
• North American Solar Challenge (NASC)
• World Solar Challenge (WSC)

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

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