(Le Mars) — Among all the antique and classic vehicles that were on display last evening at the Bob’s Drive-Inn as part of the Tri-State Cruisers Ice Cream Days celebration, there was one car that garnered a lot of attention. The car was not an antique, but instead, it may be the car of the future. Iowa State
University was on hand to feature its solar powered car. Matt Goode is a senior at Iowa State University that helped designed and build the solar car.
Goode says the solar car cost over $80,000 to design and build. He says the car constantly charges its batteries when out in the sun.
The Iowa State University engineering student says this is the 14th solar car produced by Iowa State students over the last 15 years. He says this car is built a little differently than the previous 14 solar cars.
Goode says the solar utility vehicle is able to travel down the highway at a speed of nearly 35 miles per hour, but he adds the car can go faster, if needed.
Goode says the Ford Motor Company has invited Iowa State to meet with officials with the auto manufacturing company. He says that gives the students some optimisic hope that someday solar-powered cars will be available for purchase at a local dealership. He believes it may happen within ten years. Goode says he may make it his goal in life to make solar-powered cars available to the general public. The Iowa State University solar car is making a Sun Run 99 through the summer months by visiting each of Iowa’s 99 counties before it is transported to Australia this fall for a race with other solar powered vehicles built from other nations.
