By Scotts Bluff National Monument
GERING– On July 11-12, 2022, solar cars participating in the American Solar Challenge 2022 on the OregonNational Historic Trail will be coming to Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Faster teams are expected to arrive on Monday, July 11 between 1:00pm-6:00pm, depending on traffic, weather, and energy management decisions made by each of the teams. Additional teams may arrive the morning of Tuesday, July 12 between 9:00am-11:30am.Teams will serve a 45-minute checkpoint and then continue their westward journey. The event is free and open to the public.
From July 9-16, 2022, the American Solar Challenge, in partnership with the National Park Service, will feature collegiate solar car teams in a road rally style event, following the Oregon National Historic Trail from Independence, MO to Twin Falls, ID. In partnership with the National Park Service, the event will be making stops at Independence, MO; Topeka, KS; Grand Island, NE; Gering, NE; Casper, WY; Lander, WY; Montpelier, ID; Pocatello, ID; and Twin Falls, ID. These stops will give visitors the unique opportunity to see the solar cars, meet the teams, and celebrate the journey of these new solar car “pioneers” along the trail. National Park Service rangers will provide fun activities and information about seeing the ruts and swales of the Oregon Trail.
Nominally, every two years, the Innovators Educational Foundation (IEF) organizes the American Solar Challenge, acollegiate student design competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered vehicles in a cross-country event. In2022, teams will have the opportunity to drive additional loops in certain locations along the route to increase their distance, further showcasing the capabilities of their energy-efficient vehicles.
Please visit the ASC 2022 competition page for more information and a current list of registered teams. Teams are split into two classes: the tradition single-occupant vehicles with space only for the driver and the newer multi occupant vehicles, which are scored on their practicality features in addition to their performance on the road. The week prior to the American Solar Challenge, all solar cars will go through a scrutineering and qualifying process,resulting in a final team list for the event.
Innovators Educational Foundation would like to thank all of the 2022 sponsors and location hosts for their contributions to the event. Special thanks to our event partner, the National Park Service, and our track partner, Heartland Motorsports Park, for their contributions to make this event possible. The support of our sponsors, the participation of the university teams, and the dedication of the volunteer staff make this multi-disciplined, STEM, experiential learning event possible.