Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge race concluded 18 January. It was the first event of its kind to be sanctioned by the International Solarcar Federation in the Middle East, with over 20 vehicles competing in a 1200 kilometers road race to highlight the power of solar innovation.
Hosted by Masdar and sponsored by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the event featured competitiors from America, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Middle East, including one car from the United Arab Emirates, designed by The Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi.
The futuristic, solar-powered cars are lightweight and require the use of both feet to accelerate and brake. Most teams calculated the average speed of the car and determined exactly how to drive so that no charge was left in the battery at the end of the eight hour day.
University of Michigan Solar Car Team won the event, after three days of grueling competition that started at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi and then wound through city streets and deserts, ending at the Masdar Institute.
It was a close race, as Abu Dhabi's team, Petroleum Institute, had a four minute lead when the third day of racing began.
“This, by far, was the closest race I’ve ever been involved in. If the race was any longer team PI would have surely beat us,” said Noah Kaczor, the driver of the winning team, to The National .
It was Petroleum Institute's first ever solar race. The 40 person team hopes to become the top solar car team in the world.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed AlNahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, presented the trophy to victors at the 2015 World Future Energy Summit. The Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge was hosted as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which is held from 17 - 24 January.
Watch a video of UAE's team, Petroleum Institute, test run their second-place car at Yas Marina.