Acala
Back and better then ever! Ready to race in the 2001 American Solar Challenge, Acala had something to prove.
The Acala (Japapanese god of fire) utilized the same carbon fiber shell as the Papillon. This allowed the team to put more effort into the development of the chassis, array and electrical system than ever before. The car was covered with 2640 GaAs solar cells that were more efficient than any previously used. The car was 100lbs lighter than the Papillon. The Acala was the first car to qualify at Topeka, Kansas for the 2001 American Solar Challenge.
2001 Sunrayce Qualifier
In 2001, with a change in sponsorship also came a new name, the American Solar Challenge (ASC). ASC also brought a new format to the event, introducing multi-day stages, higher mileages, and no rest days. In 2001 and 2003, the race route followed Historic Route 66 from Chicago to the Los Angeles area.
The Texas A&M Solar Car 2001 Racing Team finished in 27th, driving 1400.93 miles in 130:31:11.