CREDIT: Twitter/WorldSolarChlg

38 solar-powered cars are participating at the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (WSC) from Oct. 6-13, 2013 in Australia. The 3,000 km race starts in Darwin, Northern Territory and ends in Adelaide, South Australia.

There are 22 countries representing the competing teams in the WSC, including Japan for the Tokai team, the Netherlands for the Nuon team and Australia for the Technical and Further Education, South Australia (TAFE SA) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) teams.

The competition will be divided into different classes, such as the Cruiser class and the Challenger class. The Cruiser class participants must have solar cars that are able to seat at least two people and are required to meet road regulations in their home countries. On the other hand, the Challenger class will be judged based on the cars' speed, as they race until 5pm from Darwin to Adelaide.

WSC also features Stella, the world's first four-seat solar car from the Dutch Solar Team Eindhoven. Unlike the other solar cars, Stella looks like a bus. It will be part of the Cruiser class, which will be judged on its practicality.

The solar cars are only allowed a nominal 5kW hours of stored energy. The rest of the energy must be recovered from the kinetic energy of the vehicle or must come from the sun. All teams are required to be fully self-sufficient. For the Challenger class, the cars are required to have four wheels.

"Innovation was the key to the challenge," said WSC 2013 event director Chris Selwood.

''We try to do better every time. Every edition of the World Solar Challenge is different because we evolve our regulations in line with technology.'' Selwood said.

''We're not same-old same-old, we're pushing the boundaries of technology.''

Driving is permitted from 8am to 5pm each day. Some cars who want to extend up to 5:17 pm can do so, but they have to leave the next morning at 8:17 am. The teams will camp each night on the ride of the Stuart Highway, and stay at wherever they happen to be at the end of the day.

There will be 7 mandatory check points in the race where the team managers can update themselves with the latest weather information as well as their positions in the field. Observers will also be changed during this time. Plus, teams may perform basic maintenance of their vehicles, which involve debris cleaning and the checking and maintenance of tyre pressure.

Aside from the aforementioned check points, undisclosed check points may be imposed by the WSC event officials to guarantee regulatory compliance.

The entrants' vehicles underwent customs, safety, scrutineering and quarantine inspections, as well as event briefings to prepare for their journey.

WSC takes place every two years since it started in 1987. Its objective is to promote research on solar-powered cars.

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