BY DAKOTA TAIT
An electric car has embarked on the first leg of a round trip of Australia on Friday, departing Newcastle for a journey largely powered by the sun.
The University of Newcastle team is attempting to cover just over 15,000 kilometres in a few months, aiming to cover around 130 kilometres a day.
The vehicle will be charged mostly by solar panels, though they'll use conventional charging points in urban areas.
Professor Paul Dastoor, Director of the Centre for Organic Electronics, says it's a chance to do away of some of the so-called 'range anxiety' around long-distance trips.
"We're taking an electric vehicle - a Tesla - anti-clockwise around Australia, charged by printed solar," he said. "The sort of lightweight renewable energy technology we've developed here at the University of Newcastle."
"It's our first opportunity to road-test printed solar. This journey is all about expanding people's appreciation of electric vehicles."
Each of the 18 printed solar sheets is 18 metres long and weighs 12 kilograms, but they will be rolled up and stored in the boot while the car's on the road.
It takes around six hours to charge the car for 160 kilometres of driving, but the team's estimated the charging costs for the entire trip at just $80.
The team will also be visiting schools around the country to deliver a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Roadshow.
"It gives us an opportunity to actually test the technology we've developed and also to deliver an education program across Australia," Prof Dastoor said.
"Being able to go out to regional, rural, and outback schools, and talk to them about how the science they're learning in their classroom translates to university studies, to research, and then ultimately, technology that will change people's lives."
 |
| Image credit: Charge Around Australia. |
