Pushing ever outward on the envelope of solar vehicle propulsion, the Eco Racing Team from Cambridge University will enter their "Endeavor" solar powered car in the Australian race from Darwin to Adelaide this October. With a thin silicon solar cell skin, the Endeavor will achieve a cruising speed of 60-mph using the equivalent power of an electric hair dryer, converting the rays of the sun to electric power.

Racing 3,000 miles across the Australian Outback will require unparalleled innovation, usurping the power of the sun to generate roughly 2-horsepower to propel the manned vehicle. This accomplishment is a powerful demonstration of the potential of alternative fuel vehicles in stemming the consumption of non-renewable, environmentally harmful fuels.

Combining a highly-efficient hub-motor, regenerative braking to add power, and extraordinary electronics to moderate energy consumption, the 375-lb vehicle was designed using software which balanced aerodynamics, rolling resistance and electrical efficiency. Humankind's efforts in alternative fuel propulsion cannot wait, as over 35-percent of all energy consumption is bound to transportation.