MARSHALLTOWN – The Iowa State Solar Car team has become a source of pride for students like Dylan Neal.
“Basically first day of classes I went up to the them and said I want to be a part of this,” he said.
This weekend, Neal and his teammates showed off their latest technology to community members in Marshalltown, even offering trips around the block.
“It was actually a pretty smooth ride,” said Shelby Brennecke, UNI student: “I was expecting it to be kind of jerky and stuff, but it was pretty nice. It was like riding in an actual car.”
Their concepts were highlighted on a smaller scale as well. Kids got a chance to make their own mini solar cars during the show.
The university’s newest model can hold four people.
“I was thinking it would actually go a little bit slower, but it actually had some get-up to it,” said Brennecke.
“I thought the car was really cool, it’s really quiet for the type of energy it’s made of,” said Allison Roberts of Marshalltown. “And they said it can go up to 72 miles per hour, and that’s so fast for solar power!”
The solar-powered vehicle has a motor, and runs on a battery pack.
“They said that the battery pack that they’re using is mostly built by freshmen, which is so cool,” said Roberts.
120 team members—from all kinds of different concentrations—- work on the car throughout the year.
“Everywhere we’d go, no one sees the practical applications of this,” explained Neal. “Let’s build something that shows the practical applications of this, not just for transportation.”
Fifteen of them will be heading to Australia for the World Solar Challenge in October, but before that happens, they’re savoring the time to share all they’ve learned so far, with those who continue to support their dreams.
“My favorite moment is having a child sit in the car, and they get in it, and you’re talking about it and their eyes get wide, and there’s just this spark of excitement,” said Neal.
If you’re interested in helping the team with its fundraising goals, or to learn more, click here.
