Engineering students from Durham University have spent four years perfecting the vehicle and are preparing to see it take part in an exhibition at London's Science Museum during the school half-term holiday.

It has already been put to the test on Nissan's track at Sunderland.

The Durham University Solar Car (Dusc) will also be taking part in the North America Solar Challenge in July, which will see it go up against others from around the world in a 4,000km race from Dallas, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta, in Canada.

It is the only UK entry and one of two from Europe, with the car likely to head to another competition in Australia next year if sponsorship can be found.

The vehicle, which can reach 60mph, has been worked on by about 100 students and was first completed in 2004.

Since then people from all areas of the university's school of engineering have looked at ways to improve its structure, aerodynamic body shell, wheel motor and radio telemetry system, which relays information to a laptop in a support vehicle.

It is thought its technology could be developed for use in domestic vehicles.

Dr David Sims-Williams, lecturer in engineering, said: "The future, as far as cars are concerned, is electric."
More information about Dusc can be found at www.dur.ac/dusc