Updated: Sat Jul. 12 2008 15:57:28

ctvcalgary.ca

Teams of university students from across North America are setting out to prove that you don't have to rely on conventional fuels to get around.

They've created solar powered vehicles which will be put to the test in the North American solar challenge.

Seeing all these cars in one place is quite a sight, but this isn't your typical car show. Instead of engines and horsepower, this show focuses on the power of the sun.

The solar cars are the work of these bright minds. From the shape of the body to the size of the solar cells, the university and college teams have scrutinized every detail.

This kind of innovation doesn't come cheap, some of these cars cost nearly a million dollars to build.

The North American Solar Challenge started in the early 1990's as a research venture among a handful of U.S. schools, but today it's expanded to include international entries and the latest solar technology.

The University of Michigan's Sunrunner won the very first Solar Challenge in 1990.

Since then, the school has won four times and is hoping this year's design will once again earn a top spot.

Being the fastest isn't enough to win this race, these vehicles will have to stand up to the elements and traffic as they hit the open road, for a 4,000 kilometre journey to Calgary.

In the first North American solar challenge cars traveled at speeds of 35 kilometres an hour. This year the vehicles are hitting speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour.