Team Trev members and their families (who came to see what we have been occupied with during our ‘spare time’) celebrated what we’ve achieved so far.

Group photo at the BBQ

Technical and logistical work is still proceeding in earnest, but it’s very exciting as we approach the start of Zero Race!

The first day of the Challenge had low-emission urban vehicles, intercity cars and long-haul utility vehicles taking part in on-road rallys. The Aurora solar racing car led the intercity course of 300 km, climbing from sea level in Rio to over 1000 m in the mountains near Petropolis, and beyond. The Aurora web site has more details.

Aurora on the Bibendum intercity rally

Meanwhile, back at Rio Centro, world experts met for seven round-table discussions. The topics were:

1. Advanced ICE engines. How will advanced ICE vehicles contribute to meeting the CO2 emission targets?
2. Sustainable biofuels. How to achieve a 20% market share in transportation by 2020 with sustainable biofuels?
3. Electric vehicles. How to meet a 10 to 15% market share of battery, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2020?
4. Efficient and safe urban transportation. How will ITS improve the situation?
5. Safety requirements for lighter cars. Can cars be both light and safe?
6. Economics of energy sources and CO2 emissions in the transportation sector.
7. Public and private sector commitment and contribution to reducing work-related road traffic fatalities by 2020.

Over the next three days, the results of the round-table discussions were presented in panel sessions. Key findings included:

• The era of cheap oil is over.
• Transport is at the heart of the energy security and climate change debate, and needs transformation.
• There is a positive ‘business case’ for a transformation in the transportation sector.
• There is a need for carbon market mechanisms as well as regulatory measures to accelerate this transformation.
• Major tasks for policy makers include better urban planning, facilitating behavioural changes, and eliminating subsidies on fossil fuels.

There were over 100 vehicles available for the ride-and-drive sessions. Most of the cars were similar in size and weight to conventional cars. A notable exception was the Peugeot BB1, a small 4-seater concept vehicle that is a cross between a car and two scooters.

Peugeot BB1

Another highlight was the electric personal transporters, including Segways, electric-assist bicycles, the 4-wheeled Vilco Speedy, and the Trikke Tribred. The Trikke was particularly impressive: fast, manoeuvrable, stable, lightweight, compact, and fun.

Personal electric transport

As someone at the conference noted, you can’t achieve mobility by giving everyone a car. The challenge will be to integrate vehicles such as these, and Trev, into urban transportation.

This year is the tenth Challenge Bibendum, an international event promoting sustainability mobility and demonstrating advanced prototype and production vehicles from around the world. Vehicle types include:

• electric assist bikes
• urban and intercity electric cars
• plug-in hybrid cars
• hybrid cars
• vehicles using alternative fuels.

Peter and Nick will also be on the Aurora solar car team, participating in the technical assessments and on-road rally; vehicles are assessed for local pollution, noise, fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions, acceleration and manoeuvrability.

We will post reports and photographs when we return. Meanwhile, Peter’s report from the 2006 Challenge Bibendum will give a taste of the event. (Trev appears in one of the photographs!)

New Urbanism is an design movement that promotes sustainable cities, featuring:

• mixed use, walkable neighbourhoods, each with a well-defined centre
• well-connected streets that disperse and slow traffic, so that neighbourhood streets can be safely shared by vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians
• electric mass-transit between neighbourhood centres
• well-defined architecture reflecting climate and culture.

Even though we are currently focussed on driving Trev around the world, it is really these types of communities we had in mind when designing a small, clean, quiet, efficient car—something to get you between neighbourhoods if you don’t have a mass transit system.

If you are a New Urbanist who saw Trev at the Congress, you can find out more about Trev at our “About Trev” pages.

Team Trev manager, Andrew Dickson, introduced our team of volunteers and explained how and why we are going to take the UniSA car, Trev, and drive it around the world. Next, technical manager Peter Pudney showed the audience how to build a Trev.

The main attraction was Louis Palmer, who gave an inspiring presentation about how he achieved his childhood dream of driving a solar powered car around the world.

Louis describing his bicycle ride across Africa

Louis finished off with a brief overview of Zero Race. Louis and Team Trev then took questions from the audience before moving outside to look at Trev.

Trev in Rundle Mall

(more photos)

We were also interviewed by Channel 7, ABC Radio and Radio Adelaide, and have online stories on Yahoo!7 and ABC News Online.

Tonight Trev will be at the UniSA City West campus for a public talk by Louis Palmer on Zero Race; see Upcoming Events for more details.

Trev is the only Australian entrant in Zero Race, a tour around the world for electric vehicles powered by renewable energy.

The founder and Race Director of Zero Race, Louis Palmer, will be visiting us from Switzerland on 7 January 2010, and giving a public presentation on Zero Race and on his Solar Taxi adventures. This is a great opportunity to meet Trev and Team Trev, and to see Louis speak.

See Upcoming Events for more information about our event, and the Zero Race web site for more information about Louis.

We are still looking for volunteers and supporters to help with our campaign. If you are interested, get involved.