Sunswift turns to crowd-funding to realise solar-electric car dream

Sunswift racing team has turned to crowd-funding to get their car ‘eVe’ on the road.

Following the eVe vehicle’s successful world record attempt for an electric vehicle speed over a distance of 500km, the team from UNSW want to make eVe a car available to the average driver by converting it from concept car to a road-registered coupe.

“Full registration is no humble feat with essentially the whole car needing to be deconstructed and rebuilt,” says project director and engineering student Hayden Smith.

“The car requires front, rear and side impact protection, headlights, windscreen wipers, new raised suspension and new wheels in addition to updated electrical components.

“The interior will also be redesigned to meet safety regulations and offer a level of comfort that would be expected from a commercial car.”

The team will be looking to raise about $30,000 from crowd-funding site Pozible, with the remaining funds to be sourced from sponsors and donations from industry partners.

“Having solar cars conquer the roads would mark a huge leap in the race to develop more sustainable transport alternatives, showcasing their potential to be commercialised in the near future,” Sunswift’s chief business officer and student Rob Ireland says.

“However, we can’t change the world by ourselves so we’re asking for help to make it happen.”

Sunswift have a target as early as March 2015 to achieve their goal of road registration.

Sun swift are offering s upporters who contribute to the campaign which began on December 1, a 3D printed models of the car, solar cell mantlepiece trophies and one-time advertising space during PR events.