News
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10/21/2009 - 22:50 posted by samnicaise
Check out the article published in the Center Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice's newsletter Peaceways.
Newsletter Link
Interested in the great things that the CKCPJ is doing in Central Kentucky?
Look Here
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10/05/2009 - 21:50 - source: The State Journal [Original article]
Frankfort, KY. - TOPY, a local wheel manufacturer, is helping the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team design 16-inch aluminum wheels for their fourth racecar. The company also made an undisclosed financial contribution. Tom Trzaskus, headquarters director for TOPY, said a number of the company’s engineers and managers are UK graduates, and that inspired them to get involved. TOPY engineer Grant Baker graduated from UK in 2004 and knows some of the solar power team members. He’s helping the students determine the strength and durability of the wheels. Team Manager Sam Nicaise, a senior studying electrical engineering, said TOPY’s support has been important in making the new wheels safe and efficient. His team lacked the knowledge and expertise to design them, he said.
“We get support from companies around the world, but it’s great to have a local company that steps up and provides the assistance that they have,” Nicaise said. The team’s current solar-powered car includes 168 lithium-polymer batteries, an electric motor, an array of solar panels and a digital data system. They named it Gato del Sol III, which is Spanish for “Cat of the Sun.” It’s named for the 1982 Derby winner, which was owned by Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm in Bourbon County. More...
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10/01/2009 - 12:35 - source: Georgetown News-Graphic [Original article]
By Benjamin S. Rossi
Georgetown News-Graphic
Published: Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:14 AM EDT
ERLANGER - The sleek blue vehicle looks as if it could have recently descended from space. Even the bubbling motor is reminiscent of George Jetson's flying car. But it's not from a Sci-fi comic, it's the University of Kentucky's solar car: Gato Del Sol III.
The car was brought up by a select group from UK to showcase their pride and joy Wednesday at the Erlanger campus of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America.
"I'm passionate about cars and alternative energy fuel," senior mechanical engineering Brent White said. "It's very beneficial to put your classroom education into practice, hands on, and Toyota was a big part of supporting this car and so we're here to show them what they were apart of."
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09/30/2009 - 19:19 - source: 91.7 WVXU (NPR Cincinnati) [Original article]
By Ann Thompson
Listen
Toyota, with corporate headquarters in Erlanger, is keeping a close eye on solar technology by backing a team of engineering students from Kentucky. WVXU's Ann Thompson reports.
 
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09/30/2009 - 19:04 - source: The Cincinnati Enquirer [Original article]
ERLANGER - Workers at Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing headquarters here are used to seeing the latest auto technology, but a year-old project of University of Kentucky students turned plenty of heads Wednesday.
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UK's solar car, Gato del Sol III, which finished 11th in last year's North American Solar Challenge race and second in this summer's Formula Sun Grand Prix in Texas, paid its first visit to Toyota's North American manufacturing headquarters.
• Photos: Solar car gets a test drive
Norm Bafunno, Toyota's vice president for production engineering, took the sleek three-wheel vehicle for a spin around the parking lot and ended up impressed.
"It had good acceleration," he said of the one-seat vehicle with a top speed of 55 miles per hour. "It was a unique feeling."
Toyota is one of the corporate sponsors for the Gato del Sol, named for a former Kentucky Derby winner. Other sponsors include Blue Ash-based engineering firm Belcan Corp., founded by UK alum and supporter Ralph G. Anderson.
"Belcan is one of our biggest sponsors, donating $75,000, and Anderson has driven the car," said Mark Taylor, a mechanical engineering student, one of about 40 students from engineering, business and other disciplines who designed and built Gato del Sol III.
UK students have been designing and building solar-power cars for the cross-country solar race since 1999, but number III was the team's best finisher. Dozens of colleges and universities from across the continent competed in the 2,400-mile, cross-country time/distance rally event that started in Dallas and concluded in Calgary, Alberta.
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09/30/2009 - 18:56 - source: WCPO (Cincinnati ABC Affiliate) [Original article]
ERLANGER, Ky. -- Several University of Kentucky students stopped by Erlanger Wednesday to meet with Toyota executives about their solar car.
The engineering students built the solar car which is covered by a fiberglass shell.
It can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.
Toyota's President of Manufacturing, Ted Agata, took the car for a test drive.
UK's Solar Car Team hopes to compete in a world solar challenge. They are also in need of donations.
Click here for more information.
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09/29/2009 - 08:03 - source: University of Kentucky UKNow [Original article]
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Spet. 28, 2009) -- Shhhhh… It's a secret.
One of the University of Kentucky's highest-profile projects led by students is under way in the D.V. Terrell Building. The phase-IV project, is being kept out of the light of day -- but without sunshine, there's no way it can succeed.
The project is Gato Del Sol IV, the next version of the UK solar car being built by students in several College of Engineering departments in anticipation of the 2010 North American Solar Challenge.
And this version, says team manager Sam Nicaise, has the potential of maintaining speeds to put it among the race's top contenders.
"We're making it lighter and sleeker, with more power and more powerful lithium-polymer batteries," says Nicaise, who is majoring in electrical engineering.
Actually, what's hidden in the Terrell Building is a starter foam mold of Gato Del Sol IV's body. In the next few weeks, a fiberglass mold of this mold will be made, with the second mold to be used to make the final body.
Only after the body is ready and the motor tinkered with will the team unveil the newest version of UK's solar car.
Until then, campus and community groups across the state will continue to be treated to the most successful UK solar car created to date: Gato Del Sol III, which was the first UK solar car ever to complete the Great American Solar Challenge and which came in second at this summer's Formula Sun Grand Prix.
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09/28/2009 - 17:00 posted by samnicaise
On Tuesday, September 22, the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team took Gato del Sol III to Rockcastle County Middle School to present to the student body. Throughout the day, over 500 students visited the car on the school football field. We were amazed with the insightful and intriguing questions that the students came up with. Our visit followed a project by a number of students in 6th grade Science BRAVO, in which they built their very own model solar cars. A number of the students had the pleasure of seeing the school principal, Mr. Coguer (@JasonCogurer) drive a couple laps in the car around their track. Jill Owens, a graduate of RCMS herself, provided a full circle perspective to the students. We were excited to be able to support all the endeavors of the middle school, and promote education directed towards majoring in engineering.
The 6th grade student who had built excellent model solar cars.
Mr. Coguer excited to drive the Gato III.
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09/13/2009 - 23:50 posted by Brent
Gato del Sol III will be at several upcoming events in the Bluegrass Region. At all events team members will be available to talk about the car and team. *Denotes that the public is invited to attend.
Robert F. Kennedy Lecture on Sustainability*
Wednesday, September 16th, 8PM, Memorial Coliseum, UK Campus
More Information
The Solar Car will be outside Memorial Coliseum for the interested public to see before and after Mr. Kennedy's lecture. Mr. Kennedy will deliver "Our Environmental Destiny" with a book signing afterward.
Big Blue Goes Green*
Thursday, September 17 + Wednesday, September 23, 10AM-12PM, 1PM-3PM, Engineering Courtyard, UK Campus
More Infromation
The Solar car will be on display in the engineering courtyard between the Ralph G. Anderson building, and the F. Paul Anderson Tower during these times. Team members will be on hand to answer questions and go on short drives. This is part of the Big Blue Goes Green "Sustainability Showcase" that is occurring from September 14-25. Please see the above link for more detailed information.
Rockcastle County Middle School Visit
Tuesday, September 22, 9AM-2PM, Rockcastle Middle Schol, Mt. Vernon, KY
Full Story Continued
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08/29/2009 - 13:21 posted by Brent
Mr. Hicks approached the team about driving the car at the 2009 Keeneland Concours d’Elegance car show. John has had amateur driving experience in SCCA Autocross events. In exchange for a donation to the team, John took the car through driving events similar to what the team does in the Scutineering period during a race. Pictures from the event are posted below. I invite anyone that is interested in driving the car to email me at brent.white(at)uky.edu (please replace the “(at)” with “@”, also no spaces).
 
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