U-M’s 2011 solar car is set to compete this week in the American Solar Car Challenge: Formula Sun Grand Prix at the100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
Quantum will race for three days beginning Thursday, the finish culminating on Saturday as part of the Emerging Tech Day event. Emerging Tech Day represents the commitment of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to automotive innovation. The Formula Sun Grand Prix represents the first true test of the new Quantum.
“We’re proud to be a part of the Indy 500’s centennial event and Emerging Tech Day,” says Caitlin Sadler, who handles communications for the team. “The Formula Sun Grand Prix will be a great opportunity to put Quantum through its paces a full six months before the World Solar Car Challenge in AustralSia.”
The team is working with the U-M Alumni Club in Indianapolis and the College of Engineering to plan an event on Saturday.
Quantum is a cutting edge electric vehicle with an aerodynamic and light carbon fiber body, a high-performance battery and energy-efficient regenerative braking.
The students, who build a new vehicle every two years, completely streamlined the car this time. They took apart the 2009-10 vehicle Infinium — one of the team’s heaviest at 500 pounds — and weighed every part, down to the nuts and bolts.
U-M’s team will compete in the 1,800-mile World Solar Challenge across the Australian outback in October.
