Here is the new Eclipse VI!

Éclipse VI is quite different from Eclipse V. She was designed according to the 2007 North American Solar Challenge regulations, compatible with the International Solarcar Federation (ISF) Challenge Class regulations, allowing the car to also be able to enter the World Solar Challenge. This explains most of its differences with the previous prototype:

• The shell’s and the structure’s larger sizes mainly come from the explicit requirement for upright pilot seating (who was lying on his back in Eclipse V). In fact, Eclipse VI is equipped with a standard car seat;
• The solar panel occupies 25% less area than on Eclipse V. It went from 8 m² to 6 m²;

We designed the car and its major parts (frame, suspensions) in accordance to the fail-safe philosophy, while keeping a modular design: the geometry of major parts can be changed without altering the design of the surrounding ones.

As for the electrical systems, only the wheel-motor (made by the team) and the motor drive controller remains the same. All other systems are entirely new: maximum power point trackers for the solar panel, battery equalization and protection systems, all of which are orchestrated by our new primary controller.

True to its habits and those at ETS in general, the team was able to design and manufacture almost all of the components of the car and is very proud of that achievement.