Солнечные гонки в США

Solar car race

The American Solar Challenge (ASC), previously known as the North American Solar Challenge and Sunrayce, is a solar car race across the United States. In the race, teams from colleges and universities throughout North America design, build, test, and race solar powered vehicles in a long distance road rally style event. ASC is a test of teamwork, engineering skill, and endurance that stretches across thousands of miles of public roads. The competition occurs every two years in the summer of even years. ASC 2020 was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Originally called Sunrayce USA, the first race was organized and sponsored by General Motors in 1990 in an effort to promote automotive engineering and solar energy among college students. At the time, GM had just won the inaugural World Solar Challenge in Australia in 1987; rather than continue actively racing, it instead opted to sponsor collegiate events. Subsequent races were held in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999 under the name Sunrayce [year] (e. g. Sunrayce 93). In 2001, the race was renamed American Solar Challenge and was sponsored by the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Beginning in 2005, its name changed again to North American Solar Challenge, in order to reflect the border crossing into Canada and the addition of co sponsor Natural Resources Canada. The name was changed back to ASC in 2010. After the 2005 race, the U. S. Department of Energy discontinued its sponsorship, resulting in no scheduled race for 2007. Sponsorship was taken over for NASC 2008 by Toyota. The American Solar Challenge is now governed by the Innovators Educational Foundation.

The 2018 American Solar Challenge ran from Omaha, Nebraska to Bend, Oregon from July 14 to July 22, 2018. ASC partnered with the National Park Service, and the route included stages and checkpoints at historic sights along the Oregon Trail. It was the first to include a Cruiser Class, featuring more practical multi occupant Solar Vehicles. Western Sydney University's car UNLIMITED 2.0 won the Challenger class competition by a margin of 16 minutes—the closest finish in ASC history—as The University of Michigan failed to defend their title with their car Novum. The University of Bologna won the inaugural Cruiser class competition, and the University of Waterloo became the first Canadian Cruiser Class vehicle to ever compete in ASC.

The 2020 American Solar Challenge was postponed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. It was held in 2021, with the starting point at Independence, Missouri and the end point at Las Vegas, New Mexico from August 4 to August 7. The team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took first place in the single occupant class with Nimbus, with approximately 143 miles more in distance covered compared to second place, held by the University of Kentucky team. Appalachian State took first place in the multi occupant vehicle class.

The 2022 American Solar Challenge ran from Independence, Missouri to Twin Falls, Idaho from July 9 to July 16, 2022. Similar to the 2018 race, ASC partnered with the National Park Service, and the route traversed through historic sites and landmarks along the Oregon Trail. The team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took first place in the single occupant class with their champion vehicle from the previous race, Nimbus. They finished the race with just over 73 miles more than second place finisher Principia College. The winner of the Cruiser class was the University of Minnesota, with Appalachian State University coming in second place.

The Elecktrek American Solar Challenge 2024 ran from Nashville, Tennessee to Casper, Wyoming from July 20 to July 27, 2024. Similar to the previous competitions, ASC partnered with the National Park Service, and the will follow numerous National Historic Trails.