澳大利亞太陽能車大賽
Solar Powered Cars Race Across the Australian Outback
澳大利亞太陽能車大賽
Despite technological advances in fuel and engine efficiencies, vehicles remain high on the list of polluters. In the U.S alone, carbon emissions from gas-powered cars and other vehicles account for about 27% of our total greenhouse-gas output annually. The 'World Solar Challenge' hopes to change that some day with cars fueled by our biggest, cleanest, and cheapest, source of energy - The sun!
儘管燃料和發動機效能在技術上正不斷改進，汽車仍屬排名靠前的污染源。僅在美國，燃油汽車排放的二氧化碳就佔世界年總溫室氣體排放量的27%。舉辦“世界太陽能汽車挑戰賽”就是希望有一天，所有的車都能夠以最豐富和潔淨且成本最低的太陽能爲燃料。
The competition challenges universities and technical institutions to design and compete solar-powered vehicles in races across the Australian Outback all the way from Darwin to Adelaide, a distance of 3,000 km (2,896 miles). Started in 1987 by Australians Hans Tholstrup and Larry Perkins, the challenge is held every two years. Last year's event that took place the week of October 18th - 25th attracted 40 teams of young engineers from 25 nations around the world.
比賽激發着各大學和科研機構投入太陽能汽車的發明設計之中。參賽團隊必須駕駛太陽能汽車，從澳大利亞北部地方首府達爾文市出發，一路向南，穿越澳大利亞大陸3000 公里（2896英里）的沙漠地帶，抵達終點阿德萊德市。這項比賽每兩年舉行一次，是澳大利亞人Hans Tholstrup和Larry Perkins在1987年發起的。去年的比賽時間爲10月18號到25號，持續了一週，有來自25個國家的40多組青年工程師參加。
Though the initial competitions focused on vehicles powered exclusively by the sun, the scope has been now broadened to include energy efficient electric cars as well. However, it is still the solar-powered cars that attract the most attention because they are the most technologically advanced and pretty radical looking.
雖然最初只限太陽能汽車參賽，現在電力汽車也能加入其中。 不過，還是太陽能汽車比較奪人眼球，因爲它們技術超前且外形炫酷。
Last year's top two in that solar-powered category came from the Nuon Solar team from the Delft University of Technology took the gold. This was the team's sixth win since they began entering the challenge in 2003. The asymmetrical Nuon8 was not only 40 kg (88 lbs) lighter than its predecessor Nuon7, but also, more efficient at charging itself kinetically via static energy. Its solar panels sat atop the vehicle's extended 'duck beak-like' front section, allowing for efficient energy absorption, while minimizing wind resistance.
去年太陽能組的前兩名來自荷蘭。來自Delft科技大學的Nuon SolarTeam獲得了冠軍。 自2003年開始參加比賽，該隊已六次奪冠。不對稱設計的Nuon8號只有40公斤（88磅），比它的前身Nuon7號更輕，靜力充能時也更有效率。它的太陽能板放置在“鴨嘴狀”外凸的車前頂端，能更高效吸收太陽能，同時減少風力阻礙。
Though the Dutch team did eke out a win, it was not easy. In previous competitions they had managed to outpace competitors by several hours. This year, their Nuon8 arrived at the finish line just three minutes ahead of second-place winner, Red One!
荷蘭隊的奪冠之路非常艱辛。之前的比賽中，它們幾乎能超過競爭對手數小時的車程。而今年，Nuon8僅比第二名Red One早3分鐘到達重點線。
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