33 Cruiser Division Regulations
33.1 Concept
The Cruiser Division is designed to resemble a regular passenger vehicle and provides teams an opportunity to include strategy by determining the number of passengers to carry throughout the challenge. Teams receive points equivalent to the number of passengers carried multiplied by the distance traveled.
33.2 Physical Regulations
33.2.1
The Cruiser Division Solar Car is governed by all the regulations set out for an Advanced Division Solar Car, except where exceptions are provided in the following sections
33.2.2 Wheels
The Cruiser Division car must be supported by four wheels: two front wheels and two rear wheels.
33.2.3 Configuration
The Cruiser Division car must accommodate four passengers, including driver.
(a) All passengers must be seated facing forward in a comfortable upright position to simulate a “real world” driving environment. The driver must be seated in the left forward seat.
(b) Each passenger must have immediate access to a door for entry/exit such that they are not required to wait for another passenger to exit before they are able to exit.
33.2.4 Passenger Weight
The minimum weight of each passenger must be 160 pounds. Passengers weighing less than 160 pounds must carry enough ballast to compensate. Ballast will be associated with a specific passenger. No credit will be given for passengers weighing over 160 pounds. For example, if two passengers weigh 150 pounds and 175 pounds respectively, the passenger weighing 150 pounds must carry a 10 pound ballast in the car.
33.2.5 Enclosed Body
All passengers and major components of the car must be enclosed by material forming the body of the car. Wheels and steering components attached to the wheel are exempted from this requirement.
33.2.6 Integrated Array
The solar array must be attached to the exterior of the Cruiser Division car body. Struts supporting a solar array wing above the Cruiser Division car body is not allowed.
33.2.7 Trunk
The Cruiser Division car must have an externally accessible storage space located within the car body that is at least 61cm long, 46cm wide, and 30.5 cm tall.
33.3 Battery Capacity
The total battery capacity for a Cruiser Division car cannot exceed 10 kilowatt-hours at a 20 hour discharge rate (for lead-acid) or at a 1C discharge rate (for lithium-based chemistries)
33.4 Driving
The Cruiser Division car will drive during the same operating hours as Advanced Division cars.
33.5 Points Awarded
Teams will be awarded points based on the number of passengers carried (including driver) multiplied by the distance carried. Teams may change the number of passengers at any time during the course of the challenge. For closed-track events, the minimum unit of distance is one lap (no partial laps will be awarded).