A Look at some of the North American Solar Challenge Cars

The University of Michigan team was first across the finish line back on July 22 after a long, hot 10-day 2,400-mile (4,000 km) race from Plano, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. The North American Solar Challenge pits various schools against each other to see who can build the fastest, most efficeint solar car.

This year, 15 solar-powered cars built by students from universities in the U.S., Canada, and Germany completed.

Michigan has won five out of nine NASC races, held every other year since 1990. On sunny days with clear skies, the 2,500 aerospace-grade gallium arsenide solar cells on the winning car, Continuum, produce about as much power as a hair dryer.

Continuum averaged 46 mph and was in the lead from start till the finish. But all the cars look like spaceships.

Check out some of the competitors: