The Car
In 2019 we built UNLIMITED 3.0 for the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Following our success at the 2018 American Solar Challenge, we were driven to go further and designed and built a radically different car compared to previous years. UNLIMITED 3.0 features a bullet-shaped aerobody providing much greater aerodynamic performance. While the car was unfortunately not able to complete the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, it marks a milestone in our solar powered journey.
UNLIMITED 3.0 at Hidden Valley in 2019
2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
UNLIMITED 3.0 competed in the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. After a late start on the first day of the Challenge due to issues with the car, we quickly gained pace and finished the first day in 8th place. However, after high winds on the third day of the Challenge that affected many other teams across the field, we were unable to complete the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
UNLIMITED 3.0 at Hidden Valley in 2019
Engineered for Efficiency
From the sleek aerobody, to the custom aluminum suspension, every part of UNLIMITED 3.0 was engineered to draw the least amount of energy while traversing the 3022km of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Countless hours of effort were put into optimising the shape and weight of every single component of the car.
Aerodynamics Simulation of UNLIMITED 3.0 in the Design Phase
In-House Manufacturing
For the first time since 2013, we manufactured the entire carbon structure of UNLIMITED 3.0 on campus in Penrith. We converted a shipping container into an oven for the purpose of baking the carbon fibre components of our car.
The UNLIMITED 3.0 chassis being manufactured in our Kingswood based workshop
Composite Construction
Both the aerobody and the internal chassis of UNLIMITED 3.0 are made from high-quality Gurit carbon fibre. We hand laid carbon fibre into our fibreglass moulds to create a lightweight but strong solar car.
The carbon fibre chassis of UNLIMITED 3.0
World's Lightest Solar Car
Our design efforts worked to reduce the weight of UNLIMITED 3.0 as much as possible in order to create one of the most efficient vehicles on the planet. With this we have been able to create the world's lightest car to have competed in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge weighing in at 116.8kg without a driver, breaking the previous record by over 10kg.
The official weigh in at 2019 static scruitineering
Space Grade Solar Cells
One of the main differences allowing the creation of UNLIMITED 3.0 is the change to Gallium-Arsenide solar cells. These solar cells are the same type of cells used in satellites such as the International Space Station and feature much greater efficiency compared to Silicon solar cells. With these, we were limited to 2.63 square metres of solar array, however the efficiency benefits make up for the reduced size.
The Gallium-Arsenide Cells being appllied to the array structure
Custom Built Suspension
Our custom carbon fibre chassis features custom built suspension from Bilstein Suspension that were designed to minimise weight, being 1.8kg for all 4 shock absorbers. Our suspension was designed by our team and then manufactured by AGM Engineering in Emu Plains. Working with AGM, we were able to design lightweight but effective suspension systems for our car..
The suspension system of UNLIMITED 3.0