‘World-first’ solar car under development in Queensland shall cost owners $250,000

It will cost over $250,000– and it might not even feature air-conditioning.

Clenergy Team Arrow creator Cameron Tuesley said the prototype automobile being built for next year’s World Solar Challenge would be used to develop a model for commercial purposes.

The race runs 3,000 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide.

“There have been vehicles registered like this before, but this will be the very first one developed from day one to be a road-registered automobile,” Mr Tuesley stated.

“So other automobiles have actually gone through back doors, been registered as buggies or as farm equipment and things like that. This has actually been created in conjunction with specialists from the Department of Transport from the first day, and it’s going to be road-registered. And the concept of being able to purchase one or own one is definitely world-first. Never been done.”

The project has the support of the Queensland Government, which is providing the team a site and workshop centers in Brisbane’s Eagle Farm for the next four years.

The 2017 model’s design detours greatly from that of its predecessor– the group’s World Solar Challenge 2015 racecar Arrow 1 has a small slot for the motorist, who fits like a glove as soon as seated.