Dawn Treader is the team’s fifth generation car and was built to compete in four races. The World Solar Challenge 1996 was the main competition for Dawn Treader and its design was optimized for this race. The car was based on the proven design of Quest, the team’s fourth car. All of the major systems were modified or redesigned in hopes of making an already successful design better. This resulted in an eleventh place finish in Australia, the top North American showing and highest Canadian finish ever at this event. Following this success with a tenth place finish at Sunrayce ’97, despite a sub-par array, established the team as one of the top in North America.
Past Results
Canadian Solar Discovery Challenge:
- Fastest Total Time (Unofficial National Champs)
- Award for Technical Innovation – Solar Array
Grand Solar Challenge:
- Forced to withdraw due to manufacturing default in off-the-shelf component
World Solar Challenge:
- 11th place Top North American finisher
Sunrayce ’97
- 10th place
Vehicle Specifications
Length | 6.00 m (19.7 ft) | Aeroshell | carbon fibre/nomex construction | Wheels | 3 wheels; Sun rims/custom hubs | Drag Co- efficient: |
0.11 |
Width | 1.98 m (6.5 ft) | Chassis | Duralcan space frame | Tires | Michelin Custom tires | Solar Array | 3000 Solar World monocrystal- line cells: 14.5 % efficient |
Height | 1.00 m (3.3 ft) | Suspension | Front: double A-arm with custom shock Rear: trailing arm with Works shock |
Top Speed | 120 km/h (70 mph) | Array Power | 1200 W peak output |
Wheelbase | 2.50 m (8.2 ft) | Steering | pull/pull cable steering to slider | Motor | 5.6 kW (8hp) in hub motor | ||
Vehicle Weight | 288 kg (635 lbs) | Brakes | modified SACHS mountain- bike disk brakes | Battery | 130 kg (287 lbs) Lead Acid |