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The American Tour de Sol 2001 "The Great American Green Transportation Festival" starting line in Waterbury, CT. Vehicle entrees were testing their braking and cornering in a closed off street along side of Library Park. This weeekend festival was the beginning of this year's event. |
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The Solar Bolt is a electric vehicle built by the students of Bolton High School from Bolton, CT. The Solar Bolt Team is a yearly entrant in the Tour de Sol. In May of 1992, the school recieved two 1974 Fiats, rebuilt one of them and built one electric vehicle with the other. The vehicle has a Advanced D.C. Electric Motor and a set of 20 U-145 U.S. Batteries ( Lead Acid ). Total vehicle weight is approx. 3514 lbs. ( batteries weight approx. 1420 lbs. ) This year's drivers are Jon Treat, Linsay Mullen, and Sean Dougan. Navagators are Sean Buck and Amiee Budrick. Teachers are Thomas Dilworth, Corrine Youngstrom, Joseph Carvalho, and Joseph Fleming. |
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The Solar Bolt competed in it's first American Tour de Sol in May of 1993. Since then, It has recieved a first place award in the Battery - Electric category, and bested it's range record several times, including setting a Tour de Sol range record for a lead acid battery car of 165 miles on a single charge. About 25 students and teachers worked on the vehicle for this year's American Tour de Sol. The Solar Bolt finished in 2nd place with recorded maximum vehicle range of 111 miles, and a overall score of 780 pts. Points were totaled based on reliability, slalom performance, short acceleration rate, range, fuel economy, and global warming conservation points. |
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The Solar Bolt is one of the cleanest and well documented vehicles in the Tour de Sol. Underneath the hood is a clear plastic covering to 'showcase' the lead acid battery pack. In front of the vehicle was a very educational display for public exhibitions. |
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The Sungo is built by the New Hampshire Techincal Institute of Concord, NH. This two seater has been built from the ground up, and uses a Solectria controller and two very efficient Solectria AC motors connected to 13 Ovonic Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. The vehicle gross weight is approx. 1600 lbs. and can travel approx. 175 miles on a single charge. |
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The Sungo has a fiberglass body on a aluminum frame. Tires are Contential P135/70/R13. This vehicle's regenerative braking can reclaim energy back into the battery pack, while extending the life of the brakes. |