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UCI Solar Car 2020

$865
8%
Raised toward our $10,000 Goal
17 Donors
Project has ended
Project ended on December 19, at 11:55 PM PST
Project Owners

UCI Solar Car 2020

  • Goal:
    • We are the UCI SolEaters, and we need your help! As a result of the current pandemic, we are in great need of financial support. All assistance in raising funds for our team would greatly help meet demands for materials. This assistance would not only guarantee a successful run for us in the upcoming American Solar Challenge but a valuable educational experience for all members despite the novel and challenging circumstances.
    • Currently, we are producing our V1 car. We are in dire need of funding for materials, ranging from off-the-shelf mechanical parts, custom-designed parts for our suspension, and custom battery solutions. Every dollar helps us make our years-old concepts a reality.
  • Competitions:
    • Originating from the World Solar Challenge (WSC) that took place 30 years ago in Australia, The American Solar Challenge (ASC) is a spinoff started by General Motors in 1990. In 2001, The Innovators Educational Foundation took over sponsorship of the event, and with that came an exciting new format, including multi-day stages, higher mileages, and no rest days. Race routes have varied over the years, including Historic Route 66 and a cross-country route from Texas to Canada.
  • The Team:
    • This year's Solar Car is built up of 32 members of various backgrounds and skills with students from each year working on the Solar Car project, whether through the car's manufacturing or work on the group's business and management aspects. Despite our differences, all members and subsystems of our team work together to learn and apply a spectrum of skill sets to innovate the uses of renewable energy and strive to create an efficient, battery-run car for the upcoming competition. You may follow the team’s progress at https://linktr.ee/ucisolarcar.
  • Additional information about the Solar Car:
    • The team first started as a side project in the non-profit organization, Engineers for a Sustainable World. As more students joined, Solar Car grew to become its own Senior Design Project within the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of California, Irvine.
    • Currently, each of our subsystems have been working diligently to complete the initial designs and concepts of the Solar Car. We are now ready to begin the manufacturing process and produce a lightweight, aerodynamic automobile that can drive halfway across the country only fueled by the sun's power!
  • Working during COVID:
    • Despite the current unprecedented times, our team is working hard and communicating through various platforms while keeping its members' health and safety at the highest priority. Limiting contact has led to adjusted workflow and more rigorous planning on the part, subassembly, and master assembly levels. Cloud storage/collaboration, online calls, and Slack integrations have become vital to this team's functioning to ensure the safety of all people involved.
  • Thank you:
    • Thank you for your interest in aiding UCI Solar Car! Our students and engineers are immeasurably grateful for your support and guarantee that 100% of your contributions will go towards financing the project. None of this work is possible without your support. Thank you for investing in the engineers who will build the path to a greener future powered and transported by sustainable energy.

 

Levels
Choose a giving level

$5

Solar Cell

A donation of this amount will allow us to buy a solar cell! We need lots of these, so thank you!

Contribute $5

$10

Fully Charged

This donation is equivalent to the cost of three lithium battery cells. Thanks for the support!

Contribute $10

$25

Hackermaan

A donation of this amount will allow us to purchase two Arduino microcontrollers for our telemetry team. Thank you!

Contribute $25

$50

Radio Star

With a contribution of this size, we will be able to purchase our LCD monitor and radio communication systems for the driver. Thank you!

Contribute $50

$100

Speed Racer

This donation is equivalent to the cost of a very important piece of equipment - a brake pedal! Thank you for your support!

Contribute $100

$250

Solarpreneur

With $250, we will be able to purchase the rack and pinion for ZotSun's steering system. Thank you!

Contribute $250

$500

SolEater

Wow! $500 will fund one high performance racing shock. Thank you for your support.

Contribute $500
Our Crowdfunding Groups
University of California, Irvine Main UCI Alumni Association
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