Record on solar energy: American engineers drove 5000 km without a drop of gasoline

They covered the distance from New York to Los Angeles in a homemade vehicle, setting a Cannonball Run record.

A group of young engineers — Will Jones, Kyle Samluk, and Danny Ezzo — traveled approximately 4,800 kilometers from New York to Los Angeles in 13 days, 15 hours, and 19 minutes, establishing a new Cannonball Run recordThe Cannonball Run is an unofficial car race where participants attempt to cover the distance between New York and Los Angeles as quickly as possible. for eco-friendly vehicles.

Their car, named Sunstrider, weighs only 254 kg and consists of a tubular frame, corrugated plastic, and various 3D-printed components. Power is supplied by eight solar panels and a homemade battery with 320 cells. The vehicle is equipped with three motors and three bicycle wheels.

The team faced numerous challenges during the journey. In the desert, the temperature inside the car reached 53°C, forcing drivers to switch every 30–45 minutes. They also had to replace a malfunctioning charge controller in Desert Center, California.

Danny Ezzo commented on the achievement: “This means a lot to us as a team. All the 100-hour work weeks, missed family gatherings, and sacrifices we made were worth it.”

Although their travel time significantly exceeds the 2020 record for conventional cars (25 hours), this marks the first time a solar car has completed that route. The Cannonball Sun project cost the team approximately $12,000, with 90% of it funded by the engineers themselves.

Despite technical limitations, such as a maximum speed of 88 km/h, the team successfully completed the entire route. While descending along the Angeles CrestAngeles Crest is a mountain pass that runs through the Angeles National Forest in Southern California, USA to the Pacific Ocean, the car reached a maximum speed of 82 km/h.

The young engineers are considering future projects, particularly a solar car journey across Alaska or along the Pan-American Highway. However, their career plans may affect these ambitions: Jones has a job offer from SpaceX, Samluk from Ford, and Ezzo is still studying at Michigan Technological University.

Source: TheVerge