INUVIK
Where better to run a solar-powered car than Inuvik in the summer?

Michael Ha, left, watches as his car takes off while teacher Adam Wright times its progress. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo

Hopefully the midnight sun gave Inuvik student Michael Ha an advantage over other competitors last week in the Great Northern Solar Car Race, the first of its kind.

"Solar cars are really fun to build," said Ha. " I'm happy to be doing my thing, more than excited about the competition."

The GNWT and the Arctic Energy Alliance partnered to create the event to engage students in the practical aspects of science and increase awareness of renewable energy issues in the North.

Schools in Dettah, Fort McPherson, Yellowknife, Fort Resolution, Hay River, and the Hay River Reserve participated, in addition to Ha from East Three Secondary.

Each school received a box with a kit inside to make the cars, but were largely left to their own devices as to how to assemble and tweak them to make for the best performing vehicle possible.

Ha made two cars, ultimately using the first attempt for the trial May 26.

Ha's teacher Adam Wright said his student is very keen on building things, and it was not a surprise when he was interested in the project.

"We kept taking it outside to test on cloudy days, and it wasn't working so great," Wright joked, under the bright sun May 25. "Today is going much better."

Ha said he is definitely interested in a career which involves building things and enjoyed the challenge of the solar car.

In the end, his solar-powered car went 25 metres in 17.34 seconds, to complete one of the key tasks. Another, the longest distance travelled in one shot, was somewhat trickier to manage.

While the power source was hardly an issue, finding a surface where the car could go for long enough to truly test it proved difficult. Whenever the long distance trial was attempted, navigation became a problem and the result was less than memorable.

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