SIUE’s Solar Race Team displayed its solar car at the Edwardsville Police Department’s DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Car, Truck and Motorcycle show at Edwardsville High School. The annual event benefits the area schools’ DARE programming.
Through Edwardsville P.D. Officer Christopher Williams, the SIUE team secured a slot in the show among the classic Mustangs, Oldsmobiles, and super cars.
Graduate student and team captain Amy Sunderlin said the solar car was placed next to a bright yellow Ferrari. “The juxtaposition was an interesting contrast: a super car with a lot of power next to a car that runs on nothing more than the sunshine,” said the Rockford native. “Our team attracted most of the attention.”
Sunderlin described the response from the event’s attendees as very welcoming. “So many people walked by the solar car and took the time to examine the car, asking questions about it,” she said.
The Solar Race Team filled out the paperwork necessary to get the car judged along with all of the other gasoline powered cars at the show. Although the car did not win any awards, the team was more than satisfied by the encouragement and praises from the attendees.
“A lot of people had a brighter outlook on the future of transportation, and the future in general, after seeing the car and talking to our dedicated team members who helped build the car,” said Sunderlin, whose team was proud to be part of the community event. “Now, more people than ever know of the solar car, and they can be proud of it being built at their local university.”
Photo: SIUE Solar Race Team displays its car at Edwardsville High School.