NewsOK member benefits

Solar cars roll across Earth's driest desert

Published: November 15, 2012 Comment on this article

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The second annual Solar Challenge has begun in Chile's Atacama desert, where 15 solar-powered cars rolled out of an old salt mine Thursday.

photo - In this photo released by Carrera Solar Atacama 2012, a driver sits in his solar powered car from the team Condor 2 Mining Parts at the start of the first phase of a race, in Humberstone in the area of Pozo Almonte, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. Most participants belong to universities and an entry rule is that cars cannot cost more then $7,000 dollars. (AP Photo/Carrera Solar Atacama 2012)

In this photo released by Carrera Solar Atacama 2012, a driver sits in his solar powered car from the team Condor 2 Mining Parts at the start of the first phase of a race, in Humberstone in the area of Pozo Almonte, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. Most participants belong to universities and an entry rule is that cars cannot cost more then $7,000 dollars. (AP Photo/Carrera Solar Atacama 2012)

Multimedia

Photoview all photos

Article Gallery: Solar cars roll across Earth's driest desert

The solar-powered prototypes will travel more than 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) through the world's driest desert in the four-day, multinational race.

There are two categories: cars powered only by solar energy, and three-wheeled models that get a little help from pedals pushed by the drivers themselves.

The cars had to be built for less than $7,000, forcing their makers to be creative more than wealthy. Most of the teams represent university engineering departments.

The big finish comes Monday, and the winners get prizes of $30,000 in the solar category and $9,000 in the hybrid category.