Case Study: Singapore Polytechnic achieves a competitive ninth-place finish in the 2017 World Solar Challenge with SOLIDWORKS

Designing and Building the Solar-Powered Car of the Future

Singapore Polytechnic students designed and built SunSPECS5, a two-seater, fibre-composite solar electric vehicle to compete in the 2017 World Solar Challenge and meet strict cruiser-category requirements for practicality, safety and endurance across 3,000 km of Australian outback. To perform aerodynamic studies, structural testing and rapid design iterations, the team relied on SOLIDWORKS 3D design and simulation tools.

Using SOLIDWORKS, the team detected defects early, optimized aerodynamics and documented specifications for fabrication, enabling faster iterations across a 20-month build involving 35 students, 12 lecturers and alumni. The SunSPECS5 finished ninth out of 13 in the cruiser category at the 2017 World Solar Challenge, and SOLIDWORKS’ simulation and data-management capabilities helped reduce costly rework, improve safety testing and prepare the team for further improvements toward the 2019 race.

Singapore Polytechnic

Foo Fang Siong

Lecturer