UMSolar Speeds 3K miles across the USA with EKO Pyranometers

The University of Michigan Solar Car Team has successfully completed the 'Michigan Sun Run', a 3,000-mile-long endurance run across the United States of America, with EKO's Class A MS-80S Pyranometers.

Ahead of the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the students wanted to put their newly-developed solar vehicle, the Aevum, to the test with this new challenge. 

For the entire route, the solar car was led by a scout car and followed by a strategy car using the Class A MS-80S Pyranometer for incredibly fast and accurate reference irradiance measurements, helping them to evaluate and optimise along the way. With this caravan and grand ambitions in tow, they embarked on their coast-to-coast trek. 

Starting in Princeton, New Jersey July 23rd, the team crossed through 12 states and braved crowded cities, mountains, monsoons and more, making only brief stops in Kansas City and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Aevum crossed the finish line in Los Angeles on August 4th with Tomohiko Oda, COO of EKO Instruments USA, on-site to congratulate the team on their incredible feat.

As a part of the EMPOWER Programme, EKO is thrilled to sponsor the University of Michigan team, and it's achievements like this that solidify their place as America's No. 1 Solar Car Team. We can't wait to see what's next for them. 

Read more about the team here.

About EMPOWER

EKO | EMPOWER is a global programme that aims to support the next generation of scientists, meteorologists, students, and engineers to achieve their goals, advance their ideas, and build a better, more sustainable, future.

Through technical partnerships, support, and the provision of industry-leading environmental sensors, EKO Instruments will contribute to activities and organisations that offer young people learning opportunities and practical experience in engineering, clean energy, and atmospheric sciences, starting with six university-based solar car racing teams.

Read more on our EMPOWER page.