STA Experimental Vehicle Team Wins
the 2006 National Solar Bike Rayce
An unexpected turn of events handed the Saint Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team another National Championship to add to its resume.
On Sunday, May 14, 2006, the nine-member team and their advisor competed in the 2006 National Solar Bike Rayce held at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri. The competition, which challenges universities, high schools, and individual inventors from all over the country to build a small, one-person, solar car or a pedal-powered solar bike, has competitors race 100 km (62 miles) on a closed circuit around the Crowder College campus.
The racing machines are as varied and unique as the teams that bring them. Saint Thomas Academy had two projects entered in this year's race with high expectations for their redesigned "S-Class" solar car. The blue and red flamed vehicle was driven by senior A. Gentner and seemed on its way to a dominating win when a visit by an electrical gremlin slowed the car dramatically, allowing rival University of Missouri-Rolla to catch and pass the faltering Saint Thomas Academy car on the last lap of the race.
The team still managed to win the High School Division in a convincing manner, finishing multiple laps ahead of the next placed car. The loss to Missouri was disappointing, but there was no time for tears as the solar bikes lined up for a chance at the overall win. The student-built Saint Thomas Academy bike featured a full fairing to make the driver more aerodynamic and a trailer that carried a 1.3 meter squared solar array. B. Johnson '06, Electrical Team Director, put together an aggressive schedule for the bike and the race was on.
The team continued to put the whip to the carbon-fiber machine as it became obvious the group still had a chance to upset the overall lead of the University of Missouri-Rolla. With time running out, cloud covered skies, and quickly dying batteries, the team waited as the bike got the white flag signifying one lap to go. Anticipation turned to excitement as the strange hybrid vehicle rounded the final corner and received the checkered flag, winning its class and the overall.
The Saint Thomas Academy Experimental Vehicle Team is made up of D. Beilke '06,
B. Johnson '06, R. Pearce '06, M. DeMay '06, A. Johnson '06, A. Gentner '06,
T. Schaefer '07, D. Riehm '07, M. Tredinnick '07, T. Lenertz '08, J. Moran '08, M. Miley '08, and K. Simonson '07.
Solar Car and Bike Specs Solar Car Specifications -
Total car weight with batteries: 200 pounds
Max speed: 70+ mph
Frame:
4130 Tubular Chromoly, TIG welded
3 Wheels (Rear wheel drive)
Full suspension
Ackerman Steering (tank style)
Body:
Carbon Fiber and Urethane Foam composite
Vacuum Bagged in female fiberglass mold
Motor:
Lynch LM-200 Electric motor
24 Volt
1500 RPM
97% efficient
Alltrax Motor Controller
Solar Array:
Telekom Pseudo Square Solar Cells
96 in series (60+ Volts)
Carbon/kevlar substrate
Batteries:
Energis "Genesis" batteries
Model 42 EP (66 pounds for two batteries)
12 Volt (two batteries in series, total 24 volts)
38 amp/hours (at 20 amps)
Solar Bike Specifications -
Total bike weight with batteries: 72 pounds
Max speed: 45 mph
Frame:
Redline Cyclocross frame
Rotor System Crankset
14 speeds
Windscreen:
Carbon Fiber and Urethane Foam composite
Vacuum Bagged in female fiberglass mold
Motor:
Heinzmann Hub motor (36 spoke)
Rear wheel drive
830 watt 36 Volt 30 amp
Alltrax Motor Controller
Solar Array:
Telekom Pseudo Square Solar Cells
112 in series (70+ Volts)
Carbon/kevlar substrate carried on custom fabricated trailer
Batteries:
Energis "Genesis" batteries
Model 13 EP (33 pounds for 3 batteries)
12 Volt (three batteries in series, total 36 volts)
10 amp/hours (7.5 amps)
