The State University of New York at New Paltz’ Solar Car Team is hitting the road Saturday as one of 18 national teams competing in the 2012 American Solar Challenge (ASC) Road Race, which begins in Rochester and ends in St. Paul, Minn., on July 21. The eight-day race covers a 1,650-plus mile route passing through eight states that border the Great Lakes.

Julian de la Rua, one of the six members of the SUNY New Paltz Solar Car Team, stands with the Solar Car at the Monticello Motor Club on July 11. (Photo by Kenneth Gabrielsen photography)

The New Paltz team, under the direction of advisor Mike Otis, a professor in the electrical and computer engineering program, is comprised of six members. They are: Andre Candido ’14 (electrical engineering) from New Rochelle, N.Y.; Kira Cozzolino ’12 (business administration) from New Paltz, N.Y.; Julian de la Rua ’12 (electrical engineering) from Mar Del Plata, Argentina; Colin Morrell ’12 (physics) Huntington Station, N.Y.; Luke Stover ’12 (adolescence education: physics) from Middletown, N.Y.; and Ray Williams ’12 (physics) from Kerhonkson, N.Y. The team is also advised by Lee Cabe of Newburgh, a retired physics teacher who has over 20 years of experience in building championship caliber solar powered vehicles.  Continue reading →