Solar Eagle III

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/19/97

CONTACT: Margie Yu,
Public Affairs Assistant
(323) 343-3047

Los Angeles, CA -- March 19, 1997 -- On Tuesday, April 15, the School of Engineering and Technology at California State University, Los Angeles will officially unveil its third solar-powered electric vehicle, the Solar Eagle III, at a spectacular noon “roll-out” event in the campus stadium.

Solar Eagle III is Cal State L.A.’s entry in the upcoming Sunrayce 97, a major collegiate solar-powered electric car race sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Electronic Data Systems and General Motors. The nine-day race will cover a 1,200 mile cross-country route from Indianapolis, Indiana to Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a participant in this event, Solar Eagle III will be competing against 40 universities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The University’s first two solar cars won 4th and 3rd place, respectively, in the national competition.

“This year, we plan to be number one,” says Cal State L.A. student Kathleen Hansen, Solar Eagle III team leader. "We're able to use the tremendous knowledge and experience gained from the Solar Eagle and Solar Eagle II projects."

A dedicated team of students, faculty and staff are now busily working on the fabrication stage of the project. Once this stage is finished, the vehicle will undergo a rigorous final road test before heading off to the Regional Qualifier at the GM Proving Ground in Mesa, Arizona, April 25-27.

The project is sponsored by corporations and organizations, including Automobile Club of Southern California, Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Lockheed-Martin Corporation, NASA Langley Research Center, Southern California Edison, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and Cal State L.A.'s University Auxiliary Services and Alumni Association. Additional financial support was received from more than 140 Cal State L.A. staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, corporate sponsors and friends who participated in the Solar Eagle III “Buy a Solar Cell" campaign.

For more information about the Solar Eagle III project, call (323) 343-4494.

California State University, Los Angeles
Cal State L.A. is a preeminent urban university, located in the center of a thriving, ethnically diverse and culturally rich community. Founded in 1947 by action of the California State Legislature, it is a comprehensive university that offers outstanding programs of higher education in more than 50 academic and professional fields to our 20,000 students. The University's commitment to excellence in education is reflected by its award-winning faculty, innovative curriculum, and active student life program.

School of Engineering and Technology
The School of Engineering and Technology is one of six Schools within Cal State L.A. The School serves approximately 1,500 of the University's 20,000 students and is organized into four departments: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Technology.

School of Engineering and Technology majors pursue a curriculum that strikes a balance between heavily theoretical programs and practical, technology-oriented programs. The School is staffed by an excellent faculty of 40 full-time members, several of whom have achieved international reputations through their widely-used textbooks. Twenty-five part-time faculty bring the current knowledge and practice of Southern California industry to our students.

Solar Eagle III vehicle
Length: 19.2 feet
Width: 6.3 feet
Height: 3.1 feet
Weight: 410 pounds (without driver and batteries)
Rolling chassis: carbon fiber monoque structure
Body and solar panel: carbon fiber skin with Nomex honeycomb core
Solar cells: 762 terrestrial grade silicon cells (4.05 in. x 3.94 in.) by Siemens

History: "A David Against the Goliaths"
In 1990, with no prior experience in solar vehicle technology, students from Cal State L.A.'s School of Engineering and Technology designed and built the University's first solar-powered electric car under the guidance of CSLA faculty--notably Professor Richard Roberto, faculty adviser. The Solar Eagle (I) garnered 4th place in the national GM Sunrayce, a 1,600-mile race from Orlando, Florida to Warren, Michigan, in the summer of that year. The Solar Eagle was also awarded for "Best Artistic Design" at the GM Sunrayce. Competing against some of the top U.S. universities, and winning 10th place in the 1990 World Solar Challenge race across Australia, the Solar Eagle quickly became known as "California's #1 solar car." In February 1991, a new team of students was formed to design, construct and race the Solar Eagle II.

The Cal State L.A. Solar Eagle II won the pole position for the Sunrayce 93 by being the fastest qualifying car at the Regional Qualifier held in Phoenix in April of 1993 with an average speed of 50.04 mph over fifty laps. At the Sunrayce 93, a 1,200 mile national collegiate competition held in June from Dallas to Minneapolis, the Solar Eagle II captured a third place finish against 35 entries. At the Sunrayce 93 Award Banquet, the Solar Eagle II garnered two awards: (1) 2nd place for the Technical Innovation in the area of body and chassis design by Sunrayce 93 officials and (2) 3rd place Safety Award in Engineering Design by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Sunrayce 97
General Motors, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) and the U.S. Department of Energy are proud to cosponsor Sunrayce 97, a biennial intercollegiate competition to design, build and race solar-powered cars. This unique event showcases the imagination, ingenuity and teamwork of 40 graduate and undergraduate teams from North America in the development of highly efficient, electrically-powered vehicles that are fueled by a viable, renewable and sustainable energy source: the sun. This exciting and demanding long-distance race starts June 19 at Indianapolis and ends June 28 at Colorado Springs.

Sponsors
The Solar Eagle III project is sponsored by corporations and organizations, including Automobile Club of Southern California, Hughes Electronics, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Lockheed-Martin Corporation, NASA Langley Research Center, Southern California Edison, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and Cal State L.A.'s University Auxiliary Services and Alumni Association. Additional financial support was received from more than 140 Cal State L.A. staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, corporate sponsors and friends who participated in the "Buy a Solar Cell" campaign.

Students:
Rick Aguilera
Assignment: mechanical systems
Year Graduating: 1998
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Born: Rosemead, CA
Interests: fast cars, volleyball, computers and skiing
Resides: Alhambra, CA
Fluent in: Spanish

Dane Atol
Assignment: mechanical systems
Year Graduating: 1997
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Resides: Glendale, CA

Roland Cerna
Assignment: mechanical systems; alternative driver
Year Graduating: 1997
Major: Civil Engineering
Born: El Salvador
Interests: skiing and motorcycles
Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Fluent in: Spanish

Salvador Fallorino
Assignment: telemetry; instrumentation
Year Graduating: 1998
Major: Electrical Engineering
Born: Philippines
Interests: web authoring, computer graphics, skating and basketball
Resides: North Hollywood, CA

Kathleen Hansen
Assignment: Student Team Leader; mechanical systems; batteries
Year Graduating: 1997
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Born: Pasadena, CA
Interests: Solar Eagle III
Resides: Glendale, CA

Stanley H. Palmer
Assignment: solar panel assembly
Year: Junior
Major: Industrial Technology
Born: Pasadena, CA
Interests: cars, archery and fishing
Resides: Pasadena, CA

Ricardo Solares
Assignment: mechanical systems
Year Graduating: 1998
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Born: Gardena, CA
Interests: sports, cars and computers
Resides: South Gate, CA
Fluent in: Spanish

Roman Vasquez III
Assignment: chief driver; mechanical systems
Year Graduating: 1998
Major: Civil Engineering
Born: Los Angeles, CA
Interests: Internet, sports and cars
Resides: Montebello, CA
Fluent in: Spanish
Note: Team member and driver on Solar Eagle II team

Mark Van Dalm
Assignment: race strategy (weather forecasting)
Year Graduating: 1997
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Born: Arcadia, CA
Interests: fishing and country music
Resides: Pasadena, CA

Dylan Wakasa
Assignment: driver
Year Graduating: 1998
Major: Civil Engineering
Born: Los Angeles, CA
Interests: billiards, athletics, backpacking and rock climbing
Resides: Alhambra, CA

Faculty:
Stephen F. Felszeghy, professor of Mechanical Engineering
Jim Heideman, professor of Technology
Ray Landis, dean of Engineering and Technology
Richard Roberto, professor of Mechanical Engineering

Staff:
Bruce Fischer, Technical Support Manager
Kathy Lex, School Fiscal Manager
Mike Obermeyer, Electrical Engineering Technician
Dan Roberto, Mechanical Engineering Technician