In the heart of Montreal, a team of ambitious engineering students at École de Technologie Supérieure (ETS) is pushing the boundaries of sustainable energy and electric mobility. Students at Eclipse, ETS’s solar car club, have designed and built cutting-edge solar vehicles since 1992, competing on the global stage in prestigious events such as the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia. Through competition and collaboration, Eclipse continues to pioneer innovation in renewable energy and electric transportation.
Anthony Audet and Anthony Diotte, two electrical engineering students at ETS, are at the forefront of Eclipse’s latest efforts. Their passion for sustainability and curiosity about electrical systems led them to join the club, where they are now key contributors. “In Quebec, most of our energy comes from hydro and wind, but solar isn’t as common,” Audet explained. “Learning about solar energy through this project has been an eye-opening experience, and it’s amazing to see how it can be optimized for electric vehicles.”
Eclipse has been refining its solar car technology for over 30 years. The team continuously innovates, leveraging the latest advancements in solar panel efficiency and lightweight materials to create a vehicle that can compete at the highest level. Precision test and measurement tools from Fluke help them apply this technology to cutting-edge vehicle prototypes.
Pushing the Needle on Innovation
Every two to three years, Eclipse builds a new generation of vehicles. “Our latest vehicle features a six-square-meter solar panel array and a highly efficient three-kilowatt-hour battery pack,” Audet explained. “To put it in perspective, a standard electric car battery has around 70 kWh. Despite its smaller size, our vehicle can travel impressive distances because of its extreme efficiency and lightweight carbon fiber design.”
With competitions spanning 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) over multiple days, every watt of energy counts. The team uses advanced strategies to manage energy consumption based on weather, road conditions, and solar availability, ensuring they cross the finish line with just the right amount of stored energy.
Though built for performance and efficiency, Eclipse’s solar cars are far from conventional. They are fully functional road-legal cars equipped with registered license plates. Their single-seater, three-wheeled, boat-shaped design makes them instantly recognizable, standing out with their aerodynamic form and exposed solar panels. Every aspect of the vehicle is optimized to reduce drag and maximize solar absorption, allowing the team to push the boundaries of electric mobility.
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Fluke Tools: Optimizing Performance and Reliability
As part of their mission to build the most efficient solar car possible, Eclipse relies on Fluke tools to analyze and optimize their electrical systems. The Fluke SMFT-1000 Multifunction PV Tester and Performance Analyzer and the Fluke BT521 Battery Analyzer play a crucial role in their work.
Ensuring Maximum Battery Efficiency
The Fluke BT521 Battery Analyzer helps the team construct and maintain their battery packs by measuring internal resistance.
“We buy individual battery cells and assemble them into a pack. The Fluke battery analyzer allows us to match the cells accurately, reducing inefficiencies and improving overall performance,” Diotte explained. Identifying even the smallest inconsistency in internal resistance ensures that batteries operate at peak efficiency during races.
This tool also enables the team to track long-term battery degradation, helping them make informed decisions about energy management and efficiency improvements over time.
Optimizing Solar Panel Performance
Eclipse’s solar panels are customized for high performance, featuring ultra-thin encapsulations designed to maximize energy absorption. The team uses the Fluke SMFT-1000 Solar PV Analyzer to assess their solar array’s power output and efficiency under different conditions.
“With the SMFT-1000, we can quickly measure IV curves, irradiance levels, and temperature impacts on our solar panels,” Audet said. “This helps us refine our strategy. Knowing exactly how much power we can expect in different conditions allows us to make better race decisions.”
Beyond performance testing, Eclipse is developing a solar panel test bench that tracks the sun’s position, allowing them to measure efficiency at different angles and optimize their panel layout for maximum energy absorption. The data collected with the SMFT-1000 provides critical information for fine-tuning these adjustments.
The tool also aids in diagnosing potential issues before and after competitions, ensuring the panels remain in top condition even after exposure to the elements.
The Team Behind Eclipse: A Multi-Disciplinary Effort
Eclipse is made up of a diverse group of students who all study engineering but contribute in multiple capacities. While electrical and mechanical engineering students form the backbone of the technical team, the club also includes members specializing in:
- Software engineering, responsible for telemetry, energy management algorithms, and vehicle control systems.
- Civil engineering, contributing to structural analysis and aerodynamic optimization.
- Logistics and operations, managing transportation, event planning, and team coordination.
- Media and sponsorship management, ensuring visibility for the team through social media, content creation, and partner engagement.
This multi-disciplinary approach mirrors real-world engineering projects, giving students hands-on experience with collaboration and problem-solving across various fields.
Beyond the Classroom: Real-World Skills and Future Careers
While their classroom education provides a strong theoretical foundation, Eclipse gives students a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world engineering challenges. The experience of troubleshooting issues, designing custom solutions, and working under tight deadlines provides them with skills that will be invaluable in their careers post-graduation.
The club also emphasizes knowledge transfer, ensuring that lessons learned are documented and shared with incoming students. “We maintain internal documentation not only on how we built our systems but also on the mistakes we made. That way, future team members don’t repeat the same errors,” Diotte explained. Since club members will eventually graduate, it’s important for senior members to pass the baton to new students so that ongoing projects can continue.
For Audet and Diotte, their work at Eclipse will shape their future careers. Both students plan to take their expertise into the workforce, focusing on sustainable energy and electric transportation. Diotte is particularly interested in public transit electrification, while Audet has explored electric motor technology and vehicle retrofitting.
Shaping the Future of Renewable Energy and Transportation
By providing hands-on experience in energy efficiency, electric mobility, and renewable technologies, clubs like Eclipse are preparing the next generation of engineers to tackle the energy transition head-on.
The knowledge and skills gained through their participation extend far beyond engineering. By fostering resourcefulness, teamwork, and strategic problem-solving, students involved in Eclipse gain experience that gives them an advantage as they enter the workforce. The ability to quickly address challenges, work in high-pressure situations, and effectively communicate technical solutions are all skills that will set them up for successful careers.
With a legacy of over 30 years of innovation, Eclipse continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in solar- electric transportation. And it’s thanks to precision tools like the Fluke SMFT-1000 and the Fluke BT521 that the team can foster both cutting-edge sustainability solutions and student success.