In tribute to the sun, their source of energy and inspiration, the students in charge of the École Polytechnique's Solar Vehicle have chosen the summer solstice as the day they will present Esteban III, Québec's only prototype to pass the initial qualifying stage for the 2005 North American Solar Challenge (NASC 2005), a major race that is held every second year. This year, the NASC will be run for the first time between Austin, Texas, and Calgary, Alberta, a distance of about 4,000 km, over a period of 10 days.
 
A second test in July
About 30 candidates met in Topeka, Kansas, in May 2005 for the initial stage, which involved a full mechanical and electrical inspection to ensure that the vehicle is safe and that it complies with the competition's many regulations. Esteban III is among the 10 vehicles that were immediately selected. The second stage will take place July 14-15 in Austin and will involve covering 200 km on a closed track within about 20 hours. If Polytechnique's team passes this test, it will join the main race on July 17.

Brimming with confidence!
Given the team's results in Topeka, the positive comments by the judges and the latest tests conducted, the team members are convinced that their vehicle will be on the starting line, which would be a first for Polytechnique.

"This time, we are very confident, not only that we will easily qualify, but that we will also hold our own during the race," Esteban Project Director Hugo Careau stated. "Over the past two years, all the mechanical and electrical systems of the previous prototype have been reviewed and improved and we are very much looking forward to showing our current and potential partners just how reliable the systems are."

$125,000 for a speed of 110 km/h with 1080 A batteries!
Esteban III is 4.90 m long, 1.78 m wide and has a solar surface of nearly 8 m2. The maximum height of the cockpit is 40 cm, providing just enough room for one driver, and the total height is 85 cm. With its hull made of carbon fibre, fibreglass and Kevlar and its aluminium mechanical systems, Esteban III only weighs 240 kg, i.e. about one-quarter the size of a normal car. The total weight includes 80 kg of solar panels and a 60-kg NiMH battery (an assembly of 1080 A batteries!). Fuelled by a 5100-watt (7-cv) electrical motor from Québec company BionX, Esteban III can reach a maximum speed of 110 km/h.

"In material alone, Esteban III represents an investment of approximately $125,000, not including all the R&D costs or the hours of work, and twice that amount would be necessary to equip the next version with the most effective solar cells available," Mr. Careau added.

In 1998, a student group was created at Polytechnique to design and build a solar vehicle and the project was named Esteban -- "the Child of the Sun," who is the hero in the cartoon series The Mysterious Cities of Gold. This year, the Esteban project is in the hands of a group of 15 students, including five women, who are primarily from the electrical and mechanical engineering programs. Another 10 students occasionally provide their assistance.

 Founded in 1873, École Polytechnique de Montréal is one of Canada's leading engineering institutions, in terms of both teaching and research. It is the largest engineering school in Québec in terms of its student population and the scope of its research activity. École Polytechnique provides instruction in 11 engineering specialties and is responsible for nearly one-quarter of university research in engineering in Québec. The School has 220 professors and nearly 6,000 students. Its operating budget is $80 million, in addition to a $61-million research and infrastructure fund. Polytechnique is affiliated with Université de Montréal.

-30-

Source:    
Chantal Cantin, Director 
Communications and Public Relations Office
École Polytechnique de Montréal

Additional information: Andrée Peltier
Andrée Peltier Public Relations
(514) 846-0003
apeltier@ca.inter.net