From: Eco Systems Inc. <ecosystems@igc.org>
Newsgroups: sci.energy
Date: 15 Apr 92 10:02 PDT
Subject: Tonatiuh, Mexico Solar Car Univers
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1466300057:000:8005
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!ecosystems    Apr 15 10:02:00 1992


Here is an update on Tonatiuh, the Mexico entry in the 1993 World
Solar Challenge in Australia:




                           TONATIUH
                MEXICO'S OFFICIAL SOLAR RACE CAR
                     DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
                           April 11, 1992

INTRODUCTION
Under  the  auspices of Taller Espacio  Verde  (an  environmental 
organization  based  in Cuernavaca), Mexico will  enter  a  solar 
powered  racing car in Australia's World Solar Challenge  '93,  a 
major sporting event with competitors from around the world.  The 
race  takes  place  in  October 1993  and  goes  from  Darwin  to 
Adelaide, Australia.

Creating  solar  cars  has  proven to be  of  enormous  value  to 
engineering   education   in  the  USA,  Japan   and   elsewhere. 
Testimonials  from  University presidents, faculty  advisors  and 
students are unequivocal in this regard. The exercise can also be 
of   great  value  to  automobile  manufacturers,   because   the 
discipline of using only sun power pushes the state of the art in 
many  components which will soon be incorporated into the car  of 
the  future  -- a non-polluting car which will be on  the  market 
within the next 5 years.

The competition is being created and organized by Taller  Espacio 
Verde,  with  anticipated technical assistance  from  SAE  Mexico 
(Society  of Automotive Engineers -- Mexico  Section),  potential 
involvement   of  AMIA  (Asociacion  Mexicana   de   Industriales 
Automotrices  -- the association of Mexican  car  manufacturers), 
and  associated with several of the major technical  universities 
of  Mexico.  Liaison  with USA resources  is  being  provided  by 
EcoSystems,  Inc., a private company in Santa Cruz, CA. After  an 
initial design phase, the cars will be constructed and then  will 
enter a series of racing competitions:

   1. Design Phase: until October 1992
   Simultaneously  with  organizational development  and  initial 
   fund-raising,  a training program under the joint auspices  of 
   several  universities will be conducted during the  summer  of 
   1992  with assistance from several USA resources.  Thereafter, 
   each  of  the participating universities will design  a  solar 
   race  car  and submit their design to a jury  formed  by  SAE. 
   Depending  upon  the level of funding support which  has  been 
   obtained at the completion of this competition, there will  be 
   one or more awards of funds for construction of solar cars.

   2. Construction Phase: October 1992 through May 1993
   The  winner  or winners of the design  competition  will  each 
   construct a car during the regular academic year.

   3. Competitions: May 1993, June 1993, October 1993
   Anticipating  that several cars will be constructed,  "Formula 
   Sol"  will  be  conducted --  a  prequalifying  Mexico  racing 
   competition in late spring of 1993. Thereafter, the winner  of 
   the  prequalifying racing competition will enter one  or  more 
   USA  races  to gain further experience, such as  the  American 
   Tour de Sol or SunRayce '93 (not approved for entry as of this 
   time),  and go from there with refinements to the World  Solar 
   Challenge in Australia in October, 1993.






THE MISSION
Following   are   suggested  statements  of  misrperspective of several major participants in the Mexican entry in 
World  Solar  Challenge '93. These are preliminary and  have  not 
been approved by the participants.

1. From the perspective of AMIA (Asociacion Mexicana de
   Industriales Automotrices -- the association of Mexican car
   manufacturers)
   a. Demonstrate responsible corporate citizenship of automotive
      industry.
   b. Create a pool of technical talent to lead automotive
      engineering into the next generation.
   c. Open the way to advancing the state of the art through
      racing within a commercially reasonable time-frame.
2. From the perspective of SAE
   a. Motivate young people to aspire to engineering careers.
   b. Integrate university training in state of the art technology
      in the spirit of SAE's World In Motion program which
      promotes engineering as a rewarding and exciting profession.
   c. Provide in-depth project-centered training for young
      engineers, building expertise in:
      1. cooperation and teamwork
      2. completion of complex tasks
      3. integration of multiple disciplines into a complete system
      4. the discipline of efficiency: creating a solar race car is
         an ultimate test of the ability to design for efficiency,
         irrespective of the future potential of solar energy in the
         transportation sector.
   d. Create opportunities for young engineers to interact with
      university students in other parts of the world to develop
      awareness of technological achievements in the international
      arena at the university level.
3. From the perspective of Taller Espacio Verde
   a. Creating a healthier environment through promotion of
      sustainable transportation potential.
   b. Promoting solar energy as a means of supplying the energy
      needs of the planet.
   c. Providing an opportunity for young engineers to open up to
      the idea and train for introducing non-polluting forms of
      energy into our daily life.
4. From the perspective of EcoSystems
   a. Contribute to corporate goal of achieving "more with less".
   b. Participate in the transition to a world beyond oil.
   c. Reduce pollution in the world's most air-polluted city.
   d. Promote solar energy applications in transportation.

NEXT STEPS
For   more  information  and  opportunities  for   participation, 
interested parties are encouraged to contact: 

R B Swenson                             Beatriz Padilla
EcoSystems, Inc.,                       Taller Espacio Verde
147 South River Street, Suite 207       Apartado Postal 514-A
P O Box 7080, Santa Cruz, CA 95061      Cuernavaca, Morelos
Tel:408/425-8523 Fax:408/425-8533       Tel:011/52-73-13 13 09
E-mail:ecosystems@igc.org               Fax:011/52-73-13 99 31






SCHEDULE OUTLINE

   April +-------------------------+  1992
r         |                         |
   May   +-------------------------+
         |                         |
         | Exhibit #1,Training     |
   June  +-------------------------+
         | Training                |
         |                         |
   July  +-------------------------+
         | Design                  |
         |                         |
   Aug   +-------------------------+
         | Design                  |
         |                         |
   Sept  +-------------------------+
         | Design Competition      |
         |                         |
   Oct   +-------------------------+
         | Design Award            |
         | Exhibit #2              |
   Nov   +-------------------------+
         | Construction            |
   Dec   +-------------------------+
         | Construction            |
   Jan   +-------------------------+  1993
         | Construction            |
   Feb   +-------------------------+
         | Construction            |
   Mar   +-------------------------+
         | Construction            |
   Apr   +-------------------------+
         | Construction            |
   May   +-------------------------+
         | Competition:            |
         |   Formula Sol           |
   June  +-------------------------+
         | Competition:            |
         |   USA races (pending)   |
   July  +-------------------------+
         | Construction:           |
         |   Refine Racer          |
   Aug   +-------------------------+
         | Construction:           |
         |   Refine Racer          |
   Sept  +-------------------------+
         | Construction:           |
         |   Refine Racer          |
   Oct   +-------------------------+
         | Competition:            |
         |   World Solar Challenge |
   Nov   +-------------------------+


Newsgroups: sci.energy