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ISU students unveil new and improved solar car
07/04/2008 08:48:53
By Colleen Reynolds
A car that has a steering wheel that belongs on a go-cart and wheels that look like they would fit a pinewood derby car will be testing the limits of solar-fueled battery cells and the engineering wits of some ISU Physics students. Nick Battaglia will be part of a team which hopes to have its solar-powered car qualify for a cross country race from Texas to Calgary, Canada. He says the "Mercury Two" is an improved version of the same car that was entered in a 2005 challenge. Among other things, it has new, space-age foam, designed to keep batteries cool and working at top efficiency.
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The low-riding car is 17 feet long and has a cruising speed of 45 miles-an-hour. And there's no air conditioning and the cab can reach 120 degrees. But, Nick will have a diversion.
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The car cost $60,000 and was financed by private and corporate sponsors, gifts, and grant money.
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