Between 30 and 40 ISU students, from a spectrum of majors, have worked countless hours for well over a year to design and create the newest Team PrISUm solar car.

PrISUm Spectrum will be unveiled to the public at 3 p.m. Friday in the Atrium of Howe Hall. PrISUm Spectrum will be driven or pushed from its Sweeney Hall creation site to the Howe Hall loading dock. From there, the “Prowler Orange” Spectrum will be lowered by chain hoist to the basement atrium of Howe Hall, said Eric Christensen, president of Team PrISUm.

Soon after the PrISUm Odyssey finished 16th in the July 2001 American Solar Challenge, team members began planning and designing the new car, said Christensen, senior in computer engineering and computer science.

Since then, team members have logged between 40 and 60 hours per week to make No. 9 ready for the 2003 American Solar Challenge. The race will begin July 13 at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Christensen said. The race will conclude in Claremont, Calif.

“In this car we’re going to get first,” Christensen said.

Team members have a variety of reasons for joining.

“I decided to join [Team PrISUm] before I came to Iowa State,” said Ryan Ellis, freshman in electrical engineering who grew up around race cars.

But they agree it’s a positive learning experience.

“I’ve learned more in solar car than I have in any of my classes,” Ellis said. “[We get to] build something and see it work.” Christensen added, “It’s great to take something we know in class and do something with it.”

Ellis will be one of five drivers who, along with a crew of 16, will drive Spectrum an average of 250 to 300 miles a day in a race against dozens of other teams. The car can reach more than 70 miles an hour, powered by 2,600 solar cells and 200 lithium ion batteries.

On Thursday night, as about 15 team members did everything from dust off the car to prepare to mount the LCD screen that will serve as the Spectrum’s rearview mirror, excitement seemed to build. Before the American Solar Challenge, Team PrISUm will take on a race the week after finals in Topeka, Kan.

The preliminary race, around a track, will allow team members time for necessary modifications before the challenge, Christensen said.

From the things the team learns and experiences at that race and the challenge, it will “change a lot of minor things to make the car better,” said Ryan Haase, co-director of mechanical systems and junior in materials engineering.

They might be working to make the car better, but students already ask about buying it.

People want to drive it to work, but “nobody’s going to buy a $600,000 car that seats one person,” Ellis said.