Florida Solar Energy Center Hosts SunDay Challenge to Promote Alternative Energy Technologies

The Florida  Solar Energy Center, at the University of Central Florida, hosts the SunDay Challenge Oct. 6-8.  Florida Institute of Technology, the Florida Electric Auto Association and the Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition are partners with FSEC in presenting the event.

The goal of the three-day event is to educate people about alternative fuel vehicles and to promote alternative energy technologies. The event showcases and promotes alternative energy technologies to power vehicles of the future to solve our transportation energy and air quality problems.

The free event includes performance testing, autocross, workshops and a popular road rally. All types of powered vehicles from solar, fuel cell, electric and hybrid will participate.

Visitors to FSEC will be able to see vehicles that are prototypes of future car technologies as well as many available alternative fuel models.

The event begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6, with performance testing and the autocross at FSEC.  Public tours of FSEC will also be available at 10 and 11 a.m. and again at 1 and 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended by calling 321-638-1015 or info@fsec.ucf.edu.

On Sunday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the popular road rally. The rally features electric and other alternative fuel vehicles traveling from FSEC in Cocoa to the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

An electric drive and hybrid vehicle workshop closes out the event on Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at FSEC.  On-site registration begins at 9 a.m.

For more information about the SunDay Challenge, visit or contact Bill Young at 321-638-1443 or young@fsec.ucf.edu.

The Florida Solar Energy Center is a research institute of the University of Central Florida located at UCF’s Cocoa campus, shared with Brevard Community College. It is the largest and most active state-supported energy research institute in the country. Center divisions and their research activities include Advanced Energy Research: alternative transportation systems, hydrogen fuel and fuel cells; Buildings Research: energy-efficient buildings; and Solar Energy: solar water and pool heating and solar electric (photovoltaics) and distributed generation systems. For more information about the center, visit www.floridaenergycenter.org or call the FSEC Public Affairs Office at 321-638-1015.