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Hong Kong made a solar car with green creativity
In the heart of Hong Kong, a remarkable achievement has been made by the teachers and students of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE). They’ve crafted a lightweight solar electric car named "Sophie," which operates efficiently even without direct sunlight. This innovative vehicle requires just 35 minutes of charging to cover 15 kilometers. At the recent eco-car marathon in Malaysia, Sophie placed second among 130 competing teams from 18 different countries.
The project, spearheaded by a diverse group of 26 individuals—comprising six experienced instructors and twenty eager students—represents a cross-disciplinary effort. Members come from fields like mechanical engineering, electrical machinery, smart house technologies, automation, and creative toy design. Together, they’ve tackled everything from conceptualization and prototyping to rigorous testing and optimization. The latest iteration of Sophie achieves speeds of up to 50 km/h under optimal conditions, while maintaining energy efficiency at a steady 30 km/h.
One of the key innovations lies in the car's construction. The team has focused on creating lighter, flexible solar panels using transparent soft films instead of conventional glass-based ones. By stripping down non-essential features such as doors, air conditioning, and sound systems, they've managed to reduce the vehicle’s total weight to an impressive 60 kg. This minimalist approach not only conserves energy but also enhances performance significantly.
During the eco-car marathon held earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, Sophie outperformed many competitors on the Sepang International Circuit, completing its course in just 23 minutes under the most energy-efficient mode. Their commendable efforts earned them second place overall.
Leading this ambitious initiative is He Jianxun, a dedicated lecturer at IVE. He emphasized the importance of fostering environmental consciousness among young learners through hands-on projects like these. "Students need to appreciate how challenging it is to harness natural resources like solar energy," he remarked. "We want them—and society at large—to recognize the value of sustainability and avoid wastefulness."
He envisions Sophie serving as a catalyst for further advancements in renewable energy solutions across academia, professional circles, and industries alike. As we look forward, this initiative holds immense potential to inspire future generations toward greener practices and technological innovation.