A solar racer designed and built in NSW will take to the road this week in an attempt to break a world speed record.
Powered by the sun using silicon solar cells, the University of NSW Sunswift IV racing car, known as IVy, hopes to hit 90km/h on Friday during an official Guinness World Book of Records time trial.
If successful, IVy will shine in its class, with the current record of 79km/h set by a similarly-powered vehicle.
During a race in 2009 from Darwin to Adelaide, IVy hit a top speed of 103km/h, the university said in a statement released on Wednesday.
During Friday’s speed trial, at the HMAS Albatross naval base at Nowra on the NSW south coast, professional drivers Barton Mawer and Craig Davis will be at IVy’s controls.
Vehicles attempting to break the speed record in the category are required to be powered only by solar cells, which in IVy’s case will charge a 25kg battery.
IVy runs on the same power needed to operate a household toaster, about 1200 watts.
More information about IVy can be found at www.sunswift.com
