ANU students have unveiled their self-built solar car they will race in the World Solar Challenge next month, after years of preparation and more than a few all-nighters.
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The Sol Invictus team of 30 students has spent the past two years building, planning, sourcing sponsors, and testing the car dubbed "Super Charge".
The car has cutting-edge solar panels and lithium ion battery technology to power its electric motor.
They say they will be underdogs in the 3022km race from Darwin to Adelaide starting on October 8.
The students will be competing against local and international teams who have been involved in solar energy for decades.
But just finishing the gruelling outback race would be a huge achievement.
Engineering student Mark McAnulty will be one of four drivers tackling the race in scorching conditions between Darwin and Adelaide.
"The biggest thing we've found doing the project is the importance of mateship and team work," he said.
"This is a pretty insane project - making a car from scratch that runs off solar energy alone.
"Part of it is showing what's possible when you put a bunch of determined students in a group and the other part is to show what is really possible from renewable energy sources in today's world."
Sol Invictus project lead Emily Rose Rees, a third-year engineering student, said 15 students would be heading up to the race as part of a convoy of four cars.
"I've always been interested in sustainable practises, this was the perfect project because it combined my interest in sustainables and renewable energy with some practical, hands on experience," she said.
"There are a lot of small actions individuals can make to be more sustainable, but also getting involved in innovative projects like this which support development in that field to really push the boundaries of what's possible."
Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said the race would be the perfect chance to promote the ACT as the home of innovation in renewable energy.
"Competitions like the World Solar Challenge work to inspire creative thinking around how we can integrate the shift towards renewable energy with our transport sector. It's exciting to know that some of that inspired thinking is happening right here in Canberra," he said.
