Newscasts - Fins harness wind to help propel solar cars through Australian race

Porsche Automobil Holding SE

27/08/2025 17:16

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Source: 'Reuters - General news videos'

Description: The wind has joined the sun in helping to propel the biennial solar-power car race across Australia this year, after several teams added hi-tech fins to their ultra light aerodynamic designs. Kristy Kilburn reports.

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Video Transcript:

>> Solar powered cars blast through Australia's outback in a race that showcases engineering innovation and sustainable solutions. >> The event that we are a part of is truly a marathon. >> And this year, teams are eyeing not only the power of the sun but also the wind with new high tech fins. >> Fins are the flavor of the month, certainly the flavor of this event. >> The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge pushes the limits of technological innovation in a nearly 2,000 mile race from Darwin to Adelaide using energy efficient electric vehicles. For the first time, the race is taking place in the winter with an estimated 20% less sun. It's prompted teams to take it up a notch, with several turning to high tech fins, which help harness crosswinds on their ultra light aerodynamic designs. One of those cars is the University of Michigan's Millennium. Despite eight podium finishes in the Aussie race, they have yet to take home the gold. The team is hopeful a new set of features, including a retractable fin, will boost their result. It's designed to enhance the car's aerodynamics, increasing its speed in optimal conditions while also stabilizing the vehicle and the heavy outback winds. Team manager Matthew Anderson explains the fins benefits. >> It's a vertical airfoil that has two main benefits. First, it draws out forward thrust, like a sail on a boat, and second, it steadies us in cross winds. So like a rudder on an airplane, it helps us drive more straight in the harsh winds of the outback. It's fully robotic and it can be controlled from our chase vehicle. >> Three other top teams are also utilizing a fin system in what organizers have nicknamed the battle of the fins. The Brunel Solar Team from the Netherlands sports two movable fins on their car named Nuna 13. A test by Volkswagen's Wolfsburg Research Center recorded the car's fins reducing drag significantly, enabling the Nuna 13 to conserve battery energy in specific cross wind conditions. Other technologies seen at the event include Team Michigan's solar array balancer. It's a partnership with American solar company, Optivault, which says the car can deliver 25 times more power than a standard array in shade. Bridgestone Motorsports director and former McLaren F1 engineering lead , Hiroshi Imai, predicts technologies emerging from the race will soon be integrated into mainstream road vehicles. >> This event is very relevant to look at the future, and even near future technology may come from these kind of events.