World Solar Challenge 2015, Parade at Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia (photo of sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, presented at sunisthefuture.net)
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Yes, this is the year to celebrate the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge’s 30th Anniversary in Australia! The event began on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, at State Square, in front of the Parliament House of Northern Territory (at 6:00 am-8:30 am, with the first car leaving at 8:30 am) and expect to see the solar car teams arriving at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga of Adelaide, Australia (between Wednesday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017). After teams of students from 30 countries designed and built their own solar cars, they have traversed 3,000 km between Darwin and Adelaide in 5-8 days, to meet the challenge of 3 classes of World Solar Challenge of 2017: Challenger Class; Cruiser Class; and Adventure Class.
World Solar Challenge was the brain child of solar pioneer Hans Tholstrup and car racer Larry Perkins. In 1982, they embarked on a quest to drive a home-built solar car The Quiet Achiever across Australia from West to East. Hans also enthusiastically urged others to explore and develop solar transport. So, the World Solar Challenge was born. Inaugurated in 1987 with pioneer sponsor, the South Australian Tourism Commission, the World Solar Challenge continues to showcase the development of advanced automotive technology and promote alternatives to conventional vehicle engines.
Using no more than six square meters of solar panels, bright young minds from different parts of the world are on track in developing efficient solar powered electric vehicles. Every two years, teams from international universities and technical institutes gather with private entrepreneurs at Down Under to promote the knowledge and fact that sun/solar is the future.
Above are photos and videos from World Solar Challenge 2015. Keep in mind that these solar car teams will be arriving tomorrow Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, Adelaide, Australia. If you will be near Adelaide, check out Victoria Square for views of many interesting designs of solar cars.
To find out the motivation behind organizing this event, please feel free to view the video of an interview with Event Organizer Chris Selwood in 2013, below:
To find out the updated result for all teams and all classes and to see all the solar cars at World Solar Challenge 2017, please click HERE.
To find all the supportive Scientific Faculty behind World Solar Challenge, please click HERE.
For Regulations of the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, please click HERE.
For World Solar Challenge web site, please click HERE.
For more on healthy, happy, and sustainable living, please feel free to visit: Windermere Sun, www.WindermereSun.com, an online publication promoting community activities, businesses, and collaborations for healthy, happy, and sustainable living.
Below is a re-post from one of our sister publications, Windermere Sun:
Over some of the social networks, our previous post of Climate March Orlando on April 29, 2017 received much attention and debate/discussion regarding climate change. At one point, I did comment, “I am optimistic, for solar and wind costs have already dropped tremendously in recent years. Solar is more cost effective than conventional fossil fuel in many places. Electric vehicle and solar e-vehicles are coming in. These progress will all help in keeping carbon emission in check or be reduced in our earth’s atmosphere.”
Case in point, I’d like to share a video that demonstrates how Panasonic is building the full-length solar roof for Japan’s Prius Prime plug in hybrid, below:
Panasonic announced an advanced solar car that will debut as the 2017 model Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid in Japan (the Prius Prime) last week. This is going to be the first commercially available, mass produced passenger car to feature an optional solar charging system! Improvements in solar technology efficiency combined with advanced design and technologies to laminate three-dimensional curved glass have allowed a high output (tripling the output of previous solar roof that was only able to ventilate parked cars and auxiliary charging of the standard 12-volt lead acid battery). As the solar panels and electric vehicle become cheaper and more efficient, the potential range boost will likely to occur. The 2017 Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid with about 25 miles of range available on a fully charged battery before it needs gasoline.It gets 54 miles per gallon (combined city-highway EPA estimate) when running on gas. Its EPA estimated electric mileage is 133 mpg-e.
Its solar roof option will initially be offered only in Japan (on Japanese models) until Toyota and Panasonic develop an improvement to the reinforced curved glass panels, which would not pass U.S. rollover standards.
The panel is capable of producing 180 watts of electricity, which is apparently enough to power car accessories (which weren’t specified) and also charge the lithium-ion batteries. According to Toyota, this panel can add up to 3.7 miles of range a day to the car’s battery while parked, and it also helps charge the battery while the car is in motion. It also fits the contours of the Prius roof and doesn’t change the design.
Tesla CEO Elon Musktweeted in November 2016 that he wanted a solar roof option for the Tesla Model 3, Tesla’s affordable long-range electric car that had record pre-sales. Whether it will be Tesla solar car or Toyota solar car make it into the U.S. showroom first, one thing to be certain: our streets will soon be covered with Solar Powered Electric Vehicles….to reduce carbon emissions and to slow down the warming of our planet earth! I gladly await for the electric vehicle that will allow me to have both self-driving and solar powered features long before I reach my 80’s. It is an amazing world we’re living in!
This is a repost from one of our sister publications, Windermere Sun.
Solar Panels Reflecting the Sky, by Debbie Mous, brought to you by WindermereSun.com
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Change is in the air.Valencia College (1800 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL) of Central Florida is moving with time, leading and educating Central Floridians during the National Drive Electric Week 2016. National Drive Electric Week, from September 10-18, 2016, is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today’s widespread availability of plug-ins, hybrids, and all electric vehicles, be it cars, trucks, motorcycles, or buses.The event itself started back in 2011 as National Plug In Day with the simple idea to hold simultaneous events across the country on the same day. It has since evolved and expanded into an entire week of events and changed the name to emphasize the component that would bring tremendous impact to our planet earth: Driving Electric Vehicle! This Orlando event is one of more than 100 across the country where EV owners (aka “EV-angelists”) are holding electric car parades and series of events including the launching of new public EV charging stations. On Saturday, September 10, 2016, at parking lot F of Valencia College West Campus, owners of a wide array of EV’s (electric vehicles), (including Nissan Leaf’s, Chevy Volt’s, Tesla Model S, BMW i3, Ford C-MAX Energi, and a solar vehicle), enthusiastically shared their views of the energy and environmental impact of the EV movement. If you are interested in finding out more about National Drive Electric Week, please click HERE.
It is also intriguing to find some one in Central Florida, Larry Wexler (above), with the idea and dream of one day seeing a Solar Car Race right here in our backyard of Central Florida! From my years in covering the Australian World Solar Challenge (if you’d like to see each of these solar cars from 2015, click HERE) I realize this is an ambitious project that will require many volunteers from many areas (electronics, computer programming, design, marketing, communications, etc.). But it is a terrific goal worth dreaming. So, let’s hope Mr. Wexler much success in this endeavor and let’s give him a hand!
The organizer of the event at Valencia College-West Campus, Lisa Macon (Dean of Division of Engineering, Computer Programming, and Technology at Valencia College), gathered many of our sustainability leaders in the Central Florida community for a very informative afternoon of:
“Introduction to Electric Cars“: The highlights of electric car ownership is presented by Lisa Macon, from different types of propulsion systems to the basic of charging electric vehicles.
“Life with An Electric Vehicle“: Thron Crowe is a local EV expert who uses his early model Nissan Leaf to drive for both Uber and Lyft. He’s quite familiar with Orlando’s charging station infrastructure while making money using his electric vehicle.
“Your EV- Planning and Practice“: Insights from Goering Castro of Cory Fairbanks Mazda are shared, from shopping for the right EV to fit one’s wallet and lifestyle, to integrating one’s EV into one’s daily life.
“Going Solar-Central Florida Solar Co-Op“: Derek Grozio brings us to Central Florida’s Solar Co-Op, which opens now until November 30, 2016. Learn about going solar from an EV owner’s perspective, review the process and benefits, seeing real numbers from a recent installation.
5. “Green Works Orlando-A Path To Urban Sustainability“: Chris Castro, Director of Sustainability for the City of Orlando (as part of the Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Sustainability Initiative, Green Works Orlando), presented topics in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy projects, solid waste innovations, municipal fleet vehicles, and various other efforts Orlando is working toward to become one of the most sustainable cities in USA.
Hope this is helpful. Hope you are considering going Solar and going EV and taking measures in taking parts in Sustainable Living!
Solar Cars on display for spectators and participants of World Solar Challenge 2015 in Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia, on Saturday, October 24, 2015 (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
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Bridgestone, local volunteers, and event organizer Chris Selwood have all done a terrific job in facilitating for the success of this event, World Solar Challenge 2015. But the reality is that much work, time, energy, and expenses are required for these universities/schools, students, and parents in order for these teams to participate (from research, design, testing, obtaining material, to plane fare and hotel expense, etc.) As a matter of fact, some of the teams that were participating in 2013 are not here in 2015 because of the lack of funding support. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some ingenious methods (thought up by students and participants of WSC2015) of obtaining funding for future participation in World Solar Challenges.
First Method Example: Owl of Kogakuin University Solar Vehicle Project from Japan Is For Sale !!!
Owl of Kogakuin University Solar Vehicle Project from Japan, Winner of the Cruiser Class in World Solar Challenge 2015 (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
A Historical Moment has arrived! The solar vehicle that has just come in first in the Cruiser Class of World Solar Challenge 2015, by Kogakuin University, is now selling it as a way to raise fund for future World Solar Challenge races. It is designed with a family in mind, traveling up to 100 km/h and with a carrying capacity for four. Any car collectors, car dealerships, educational institutions, or solar businesses would have a wonderful opportunity to acquire/showcase/support solar projects by considering to purchase this vehicle. If any of you out there is interested, please contact the Kogakuin Universtiy Solar Vehicle Project via email: kogakuin.solarcar@gmail.com
A shout out to Jay Leno (well known American talk show host who has a passion for collecting cars and is now running a show call Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC)! Jay, this is the car for your show to usher in our Renewable/Solar Energy Age!!! Let’s all tweet to Jay: @jayleno and @LenosGarage to help him realize this fantastic opportunity at World Solar Challenge!
If any other Solar Car Teams will be interested in raising fund in this manner, please keep Sun Is The Future informed so we can help you to let the world know that there is such opportunity for car enthusiasts and organizations to obtain Solar Cars !
Second Method Example: Solis Bellator of Liberty Christian School Solar Car Team from U.S.A.
Above is a student (Cameron Mutis, the media consultant of Solis Bellator) from Liberty Christian School of Argyle, TX (of USA). These students are amazing! They simply got dressed and pitched at various organizations, companies, and individuals to gather $150,000 then designed, made, and participated in World Solar Challenge 2015. In this process, they have not only learned about the building of a solar car, but also various aspects of locating resources and funding an organization or project. What they have accomplished is not easy, especially when you consider that some of the other university solar car teams are running on a budget of multiple millions of dollars and with guidance from industries. I suspect their teacher/coach Brent Dragoo had contributed much to the success of the team, for between Oct. 20-21, their charge controller died and they had to order another from the company in Brisbane to overnight it to Coober Pedy. Truly resourceful! If you should be interested in helping to support this school and/or their solar car project, please feel free to contact Liberty Christian School at 940-294-2000 (USA) and/or Donate (with Designation specified for “solar car“)
Third Method Example: Fund Raising Campaigns globally via various Crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo or Kickstarter, etc. Remember that there are a lot of crowdfunding platforms out there. You may find one or more most suitable for your particular situation/school by googling. Keep in mind that tips on how to start or run a successful campaign may be obtained via youtube. Incredible as it may seem, one of the well known solar campaigns funded via indiegogo was by an Idaho (USA) couple who were designing for Solar Roadway. They were asking for $1 million but ended up receiving slightly more than $2 million by the end of the whole campaign. When any one team is running a campaign, it is important to try to let as many people know about the motivation and duration of the campaign. Sun Is The Future would be gladly help to assist in letting the world know about your campaign. But it is crucial that individual solar car team would set up their own campaign and provide their own web site with appropriate contact information before contacting Sun Is The Future at sunisthefuture@gmail.com . Sun Is The Future will help to promote campaigns but would not be involved with the collection of donations.
May there always be plentiful beautiful Sunshine and sufficient funds for these beautiful Solar Cars for many many more decades to come….
More coverage on World Solar Challenge 2015 in the coming posts and at our youtube channel….
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
Today is another day of perfect temperature to watch our hope for the future, the Solar Future, to roll into Victoria Square, at Adelaide, Australia. These students from across the globe have spent countless hours to prepare, research, design, test, and improve their solar cars. Regardless which position their car has arrived in, the simple fact that they are here, in Adelaide, Australia, participating in World Solar Challenge 2015, means that they have won. They have won the experience of working on a team project, learning that many segments of the project is always taking more time than anticipated, and realizing that one always has to continue learning and refining one’s skill and knowledge. Finally, in arriving at the appreciation for power of the Sun. Allow me to share with you, this video of about 18 solar cars crossing the ceremonial finish line at Victoria Square at Adelaide, Australia, on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, below:
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
Harmonious & Collaborative Sunshine (photographed by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
The aggresive Chinese NEA in the previous post has inspired me to have a closer look at some of the current Chinese effort toward solar energy. Interestingly, some new development regarding Hanergy Holding getting ready to launch five models of solar-powered cars in October this year got my attention, for I’ve had a history of covering the solar car events since 2011.
Hanergy is a privately held Chinese multinational renewable energy company founded in 1994 by Li Hejun (its current chairman and CEO). Its headquarter is in Beijing. It is active in solar, wind and hydropower generation and is one of the world’s largest thin-film solar power company. Hanergy was ranked No. 23 in the 2014 list of 50 Smartest Companies by MIT Technology Review, noting “the Chinese energy company is snapping up advanced solar technologies at fire-sale prices.”
As the market share of thin film photovoltaic panels is expected to decline each year to 2017, according to one of the NPD Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report, it is not surprising that Hanergy has been further exploring and expanding into other clean energy territories such as auto sector. Considering the fact that transportation vehicle is one of the main contributing factors for CO2 emission and particulates pollution any where on planet earth, Hanergy Holding is likely to continue to have tremendous impact toward cleaning our earthly environment in the future.
Solar Charging Station (credit: Hanergy)
Hanergy was on the top of Tesla‘s list of collaborators for the first PV Supercharger station in China. Two solar PV charging systems designed and manufactured by Hanergy Solar Group (at Tesla’s request), were showcased in April, 2014, by Tesla. Finally, some body has taken up on Elon Musk’s offer of Tesla’s patents for free! Plans for Tesla’s supercharger network in China will continue to roll out in large cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Tesla’s founder Elon Musk said: “In the future, Tesla will work with partners to build supercharger network. The first charging station in Beijing was built in cooperation with Hanergy Solar Group. Tesla will continue to invest in the construction of superchargers in China, aiming to quickly expand the network.” Elon Musk also noted that large investments will be brought into China for the building of seven Supercharger networks.
The two solar PV charging systems showcased were somewhat different, as indicated in the press release at the time, below (in italics):
The Beijing carport, a mobile carport designed to be assembled and transported, adopts Hanergy’s GSE flexible thin-film solar modules. The Shanghai carport will be a fixed structure, and adopts Hanergy’s MiaSole CIGS high-efficiency modules. The first phase of both carports has been completed.
The PV charging system by Hanergy Solar Group protects vehicles like ordinary carports, while (at the same time) converting sunlight into electricity (via) its solar rooftop. At the same time, the system charges the electric vehicle through its energy storage system. The system uses the CIGS thin-film PV technology, the most advanced in the world. With conversion rates peaking at 20.5%, this technology offers light weight, flexibility, excellent low-light performance and advanced packaging. More importantly, no fixed column is required, which significantly reduces the cost.
Vice President of Hanergy Global Solar Power and Application Group, Ms. Zhang Qingliang, stated: “Hanergy has been actively exploring ways to utilize its thin-film photovoltaic technology to provide solutions through technological innovation and cross industrial integration. We have been working with multiple domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers to integrate solar, and is also researching on energy storage, photovoltaic car roof and other solar-automobile applications.”
As Hanergy continues working with three domestic and two foreign companies on solar powered cars, it will be interesting for us to keep our eyes on what 5-models of solar cars that will be unveiled in October of 2015. With an earthly population of over one billion people, China will provide a huge potential market for future solar cars. The collaboration between Hanergy and Tesla in solar electric cars and supercharging stations will bring forth not only the vehicle of Solar Energy Age, Cleaner Environment, but an important appreciation for multinational collaboration. This is truly the kind of success through Harmonious Collaboration that our planet needs more of on our way toward a brighter, healthier, and better world.
P.S. The English edition of China’s New Energy Revolution by renewable energy advocate and Hanergy Chairman Li Hejun is now available for purchase in bookstores across the U.S. as well as in e-book format.
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, photographed, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any of your comments or suggestions will be welcomed via sunisthefuture@gmail.com“”.
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics: www.sunisthefuture.net
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Solar enthusiasts come from all walks of life, irrespective of their ethnicity, national of origin, gender, socio-economic background. What they do have in common is the hope, optimism, and energy derived from the belief that Solar Energy is the Cleanest-Safest-Healthiest-Most Secure form of energy available to us Earthlings. At the World Solar Challenge 2013 (about 3000 km between Darwin and Adelaide of Australia), solar cars from 38-40 teams are driven and competed by students from 22 countries. But, keep in mind that behind these dazzling, futuristic looking solar cars, there are many solar enthusiasts supporting the completion of each and every solar car project. Once every two years, I come to Darwin to soak up the happy energy from these wonderful fellow solar enthusiasts and gather their unique stories, shared below:
1. On the first day that I arrived in Darwin, at the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, I’ve come across Mr. Shusei Yamada.
Shusei Yamada-solar car driver, photojournalist, and biodieseladventurer, www.biodieseladventure.com (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Mr. Yamada supports World Solar Challenge 2013 by being one of the drivers for KAITON II of GoKo High School.
GoKo High School's KAITON II (Japan) (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Besides his involvement with World Solar Challenge, Mr. Yamada also seeks adventure in another kind of renewable energy (besides solar). Apparently, he established the Biodiesel Adventure Project to support an attempt to drive around the world without using fossil fuels, in a car powered by biodiesel fuel. On December 1, 2008, Mr. Yamada completed his journey around the world in 360 days, totaled 47,853 km, on 6504 liters of cooking oil (supplied by 2496 individuals). Check out www.biodieseladventure.com. To find out more about his project and experience, he may also be reached via email: shusei@ex-station.com .
2. While waiting at the Darwin airport for the flight to Adelaide, Australia, I met an adorable Dutch couple, also waiting to get to Adelaide. As it turned out, they are Marycke and Gerard Seder
Gerard and Marycke Seder (Netherlands), parents of Koan of the Solar Team Twente. (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
from Netherlands and parents of Koan from the Solar Team Twente with The Red Engine.
The Red Engine of the Solar Team Twente (Netherlands) (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
After finding out that Gerard teaches math and physics and Marycke enjoys taking beautiful photos, I couldn’t help encouraging them to consider building a web site of their own, relating subject matters in math and physics with beautiful photos. Perhaps this lovely couple will collaborate on such project together in the future. Just remember that Blogger and WordPress have all made it very user-friendly for people to start sharing information online and Google is your friend. Any question one may have regarding how to get something done, just ask Google.
3. Last but not least of this post is Wubbo Ockels.
Wubbo Ockles of the support crew-adviser of Nuon Solar Team at World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
I can’t believe it! I met the Dutch physicist, former astronaut of European Space Agency (ESA), and the first Dutch citizen in space, Wubbo Johannes Ockels! All I saw is some one in the orange Nuon Solar Team’s support crew shirt, with an unassuming manner, and a big happy kid not much different from rest of the students on the solar team from the Netherlands,
Timeless Ritual of Fountain Celebration of Nuon Solar Team, First Place in World Solar Challenge 2013 on Oct. 10, 2013 at Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, Australia (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
full of energy and enthusiasm for life and solar energy. Dr. Ockels is currently professor of Aerospace for Sustainable Engineering and Technology at the Delft University of Technology. From the long list of accomplishments of Dr. Ockels, I simply want to highlight two projects associated with energy:
First project is Laddermill. A Laddermill is a kind of windmill consisting of ladder of kites as quoted from his web site: The LadderMill is the response to the challenge for exploiting the gigantic energy source contained in the airspace up to high altitudes of 10 km. The concept has been developed with the aim to convert wind energy at altitude in electricity on the ground in an environmental and cost effective manner.
Second project is: Cofounding www.happyenergy.com I encourage you all to visit this site and help to make/spread the Happy Energy Sign the new WorldWide Symbol for Sustainable & Positive Energy.
Without the exuberance and happy energy of all of these support groups mentioned above and many more (there are over a hundred volunteers locally and thousand throughout the planet earth),
Happily supportive ladies/mothers from the Netherlands and Belgium for World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
World Solar Challenge would not have been possible. So, Hip, Hip, Hurray, for all of you who have been most supportive!
have unveiled Stella recently. It resembles a squashed, wingless airplane, with the capacity to seat four people, a trunk, intuitive steering and solar panels on the roof that will provide power for a range of 600 kilometers (373 miles) per charge. Stella is one of the solar car entries in the new Cruiser Class of the World Solar Challenge, with the goal being practicality rather than speed, reflecting the growing interest in commercially viable solar cars.
A team of 22 students from the Eindhoven University of Technology of Netherlands, was responsible for the creation of Stella. Stella has an aerodynamic design using light weight material such as carbon fiber and aluminum. It will be getting the official certification for road use, becoming street legal and be ready for sale in Europe.
Below, is the video of First Ride of Stella Presentation by STE (Solar Team Eindhoven) students at Eindhoven University of Technology:
Due to the limitation (less than 20 minutes) YouTube has placed on sunisthefuture channel at the moment, I had to split the “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012” into two parts: part 1 is posted for August 14, 2012, and part 2 is posted for August 15, 2012, at http://sunisthefuture.net . Hope you have/will enjoy viewing these two parts of first movie production (w/music) here at sunisthefuture.net , sharing the trials, tribulations, joy, and exuberant energy of participants of American Solar Challenge 2012. One thing is for certain: it is the cooperative spirit and perpetual optimism of solar energy enthusiasts/industry (also seen among ASC2012 participants) that had brought down the cost of solar energy this past decade.
It is with both pleasure and excitement that I’d like to unveil the video of today, “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012 (2 of 2)”, for this is the first time for me to use movie/video editing software. I’ve learned that one needs to be relentless in cutting footage and meticulous in tapering the music at the beginning and ending of each segment. I’ve even explored many sites online for royalty free music (available at Pond5) and discovered that background music makes tremendous difference in the final product. There is definitely still much more to be learned. After spending much time editing various footage, synchronizing and fading in or fading out of the music, and overcoming frustration in having to deal with instability with certain movie making software, I’ve moved on to Adobe Premier Pro (much more reliable and time-saving). But for the moment, take a look at this clip below and compare it to the twenty-six videos already uploaded at sunisthefuture Youtube Channel (footages prior to yours truly’s attempt at compositing and adding of music) and either leave a comment below or email me at sunisthefuture@gmail.com to let me know of your preference or suggestions. Without further ado, let’s share these very special moments, below:
In the “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012″, I selected only the most memorable moments (such as University of Michigan’s hydroplaning experience, Oregon State University’s picking up a cat and named it Tesla (in 1 of 2), Illinois State University’s encountering Ohio state police and receiving donuts in exchange for wearing hats, Principia College’s breaking their own record on speed of repair work, etc.) that occurred during this solar car race;those of you who were interviewed may still be able to find the uncut and uncomposited versions at sunisthefuture Youtube Channel. Please be very forgiving of my first time working with Adobe Premier Pro. Nevertheless, I am pleased with the fact that I can actually refer to myself as a producer, for the first time, in sharing these special moments of energized solar enthusiasts…driven by the magical dust of sunshine.
Be sure to also check out the part 1 of 2 of “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012” posted on August 14, 2012, of http://sunisthefuture.net .
Any of your comments, suggestions, concerns, and questions are welcomed below or via sunisthefuture@gmail.com
written, interviewed, edited, and uploaded by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker & filmed by Michael Nunamaker and Susan Sun Nunamaker.
Homepage: http://www.sunisthefuture.net
It is with both pleasure and excitement that I’d like to unveil the video of today, “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012 (1 of 2) posted under August 14, 2012 and (2 of 2) will be posted under August 15, 2012) “, for this is the first time for me to use movie/video editing software. I’ve learned that one needs to be relentless in cutting footage and meticulous in tapering the music at the beginning and ending of each segment. I’ve even explored many sites online for royalty free music and discovered that background music makes tremendous difference in the final product. There is definitely still much more to be learned. After spending much time editing various footage, synchronizing and fading in or fading out of the music, and overcoming frustration in having to deal with instability with certain movie making software, I’ve moved on to Adobe Premier Pro (much more reliable and time-saving). But for the moment, take a look at this clip below and compare it to the twenty-six videos already uploaded at sunisthefuture Youtube Channel (footages prior to yours truly’s attempt at compositing and adding of music) and either leave a comment below or email me at sunisthefuture@gmail.com to let me know of your preference or suggestions. In the “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012”, I selected only the most memorable moments (such as University of Michigan’s hydroplaning experience, Oregon State University’s picking up a cat and named it Tesla, Illinois State University’s encountering Ohio state police and receiving donuts in exchange for wearing hats, Principia College’s breaking their own record on speed of repair work, etc.) that occurred during this solar car race;those of you who were interviewed may still be able to find the uncut and uncomposited versions at sunisthefuture Youtube Channel. Please be very forgiving of my first time working with Adobe Premier Pro. Nevertheless, I am pleased with the fact that I can actually refer to myself as a producer, for the first time, in sharing these special moments of energized solar enthusiasts…driven by the magical dust of sunshine. I would also like to thank my hubby Michael Nunamaker for being very helpful in playing the part of a camera man and technical support whenever I needed an extra hand. Of course, this short film would not have been possible without all of those who sponsored and participated in American Solar Challenge 2012 (July 14, 2012-July 21, 2012). I look forward to producing more films for solar energy events in the future. Finally, due to the fact that I was learning to use 4-5 different pieces of software these past few days, I had to delay posting quite a few articles until the coming week. Keep checking because there will be quite a few new articles about various aspects of progress made in solar energy industry. Without further ado, “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012 (1 of 2)”, below, and “Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012 (2 of 2) will soon follow (will be posted on August 15, 2012 at http://sunisthefuture.net):
This is a composite of most special moments of American Solar Challenge (ASC) 2012, filmed near the finish line, the Capitol Building of St. Paul, MN., on July 21, 2012. Footage are filmed mostly by Michael Nunamaker (segment on driver Larry Chan of University of MN is filmed by Susan Sun Nunamaker), interviewed, edited, and uploaded by Susan Sun Nunamaker of Sun Is The Future at http://sunisthefuture.net of Susan Sun Nunamaker. This is a project out of appreciation and belief in solar energy as the most promising CLEAN energy for the future of earthlings. We would like to share the trials, tribulations, and special moments of all participating schools (University of Michigan, Iowa State University, Western Michigan University, Principia College, MIT, CalSol/University of CA-Berkeley, University of Minnesota, Oregon State University, Illinois State University, Montreal Polytechnique, New Paltz/State Universtiy of NY, Michigan State University) students, and alumni during the American Solar Challenge (ASC) of 2012. The film has demonstrated the enthusiasm, cooperative spirit, and perpetual optimism pervasive among those involved with solar energy/industry. This is a car race of the most special kind, running on solar energy. We look forward to many more years of covering this special race.
For your viewing pleasure, I have edited/combined 26 videos in order to complete this film. Due to the purchased royalty free music added, this particular film will be under the Standard YouTube License rather than the Creative Commons License. I hope you will enjoy viewing it. If you’d like to get hold of the video under Creative Commons License, the original (uncomposited, without music) 26 video clips can be found at sunisthefuture YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/sunisthefuture?feature=results_main
“Special Moments of American Solar Challenge 2012 (2 of 2)” will be posted under August 15, 2012.
Again, any of your comments, questions, suggestions, concerns will be welcomed below or via sunisthefuture@gmail.com
P.S. If any of you have any learning experience from working with Adobe After Effects, I’d appreciate any pointer or helpful links. Thank you.
