UNLIMITED 5.0 was designed in 2022 by the Western Sydney Solar Team to compete in the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. While designing the solar car, the team wanted to ensure that TED 5 would be their most reliable solar car yet, so there was an emphasis on reliability, serviceability and safety in the long process of designing and manufacturing. With many hours of dedication and hard work, the team brought TED 5’s design to life, and completed the challenge, placing 9th overall and 1st in Australia.
For the 2024 NSW Regional Roadshow, the team drove TED 5 through regional NSW over the course of 5 days. Throughout the 5 days, the team visited various renewable energy sites and schools, engaging with the community and promoting conversations around sustainability, clean energy, and the future of solar-powered vehicles.
The Western Sydney Solar Team would like to extend a special thank you to all our partners and sponsors. We deeply appreciate the invaluable support and assistance we have received, which has been essential in making this journey happen.
The start of the Roadshow was exhilarating. The team gathered around the timer, eagerly counting down and cheering. The first stop of Roadshow was Abergeldie, where the team unloaded TED 5 and enjoyed a refreshing morning tea with lively conversations in the cold. The team then headed to WSU Lithgow, where the team met many students and had the opportunity to showcase TED 5. TED 5's first drive of Roadshow took place as the team made their way to the National Motor Racing Museum, passing the Lithgow Information Hub along the way. At the museum, the Mech team conducted a thorough check on TED 5 before the drivers took turns taking laps on the track, earning the title of the fastest Solarcar lap. After the final lap, the driver stayed in the car and drove it to the campsite.
Day 2 started off with a rough morning. It was below freezing, and Elec and Strat's computers weren't functioning properly. The original plan was to drive TED 5 to HARS Parkes Aviation Museum, however, due to concerns raised by the weather and computer malfunctions, TED 5 was loaded up into the trailer and driven to HARS. Once TED 5 was unloaded at HARS, the team took the opportunity to test the solar car on the airport track, pushing the limits of the tyres and speed. Afterwards, The team took a well-deserved break and enjoyed their lunch sitting around the aircraft on display before finishing the day off at Abergeldie.
On day 3, the team’s plan to visit Wee Waa High School was postponed by a small detour, stopping by a local primary school to show off TED 5 to the students. The team took this opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences, answering questions about the car’s technology and the journey behind building it. Once the detour was over, the team continued on to Wee Waa High School as originally planned. Later, the team made the last stop of the day at CSIRO Parkes Observatory. They were given an in-depth tour of the telescopes, and the team was captivated by the fascinating science behind the facility.
The day began with a visit to the Gunnedah Rural Museum where the team was invited to explore the exhibits. They had the chance to speak with the workers and owners, learning about the collections of early agriculture and transport. The next stop was the Quirindi Silo where the team were given the opportunity to admire Peter Ryan's art, blending dreamtime stories with the local heritage. During their visit, the mayor came to greet the team and they enjoyed a lovely conversation with the local community. On the way to the campsite, the weather began to deteriorate rapidly, resulting in the safety of TED 5 and the driver being compromised. It took a while to find a safe space to pull over and load TED 5 into the trailer, but luckily the team were able to do it just before the weather got worse.
The team began their day with an early start, heading to a café for breakfast before spending some time at a local sports field. The final stop of Roadshow was a visit to Eastern Creek SMSP. When they arrived, the team was welcomed with a variety of small treats, along with the presence of family members and sponsors. Everyone took the opportunity to catch up and relax after a long week of hard work. Finally, TED 5 was packed up and trailered back to Kingswood, bringing 2024’s NSW Regional Roadshow to an end.
