The Ice Challenge, will present the greatest challenge on the planet for a solar car and its pilot.
For the human the challenge comes from enduring extreme cold temperature in a confined space. For the machine, extreme cold temperatures change the properties of materials, increase the viscosity of lubes, plastics becomes brittle, different compounds react differently, contracting or expanding at diffrent temperatures. The biggest challeng is the opetarion of the batteries. Low temperature slow down chemical the reaction in the battery. So, if the battery is used at a low temperature then less current is produced than at a higher temperature. One solution is to keep the battery warm. Preheating batteries is not unusual for certain situations.
On the other hand, unused batteries will lose their charge more slowly at cooler temperatures than at warmer temperatures.
An isulating blanket will be placed on the batteries to keep it warm. The driver will wear a few extra laywers along with a few little hotties toe warmers.
The Ice Challenge will take place on the seasonal ice road running between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada, covering 180km (111 miles) over the frozen Mackenzie River and Arctic Ocean. XOF1 became the first solar car in the world to operate below freezing temperatures during its inaugural test drive over the frozen lake Simcoe in Ontario Canada. The car has been extensively tested on racetracks and real-world conditions under an array of challenging conditions. The car can accelerate from zero to 85kmh (50mph) in 6 seconds; drive distances of 200km (130 miles) at night or 483km (300.5 miles) on a bright sunny day. Our team is comprised of people from all walks of life; ordinary, average people from the grass roots of our society as well engineers and students. This mosaic of volunteers from 23 countries makes Xof1 a truly international project.
On April 10th, 2010 The Power of One (XOF1), solar car project will be taking on the greatest challenge on the planet for any electric vehicle "The longest ice road in the world", where man and machine will be pushed to their physical limits.
XOF1 made history as the first solar car to reach the Arctic Circle under its own power. Using only sunshine as fuel, XOF1 continued across North America, breaking the world distance record for a solar car. On July 20th 2009, XOF1 re-wrote the history books when it crossed the Arctic Circle for a second time.
While taking on the greatest challenge on the planet for a solar powered electric vehicle, the XOF1 project is committed to education and the promotion of clean and sustainable energy. Throughout the solar car’s travels, the XOF1 team has given presentations and encouraged kids to learn about the project, sustainability and to follow their dreams.
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