Sun-conscious students from Iowa State University are about to launch a nine-day tour of the Hawkeye State with their solar-powered car. Nick Mohr, a sophomore engineering student from Pleasant Valley, says the goals of “SunRun 2000” include raising energy awareness.The solar car, PrISUm Phoenix, placed fifth in last year’s nationwide Sunrayce 99, the highest finish of any I-S-U solar car. Mohr says the solar car team will be taking the shiny bug-like car on a tour of the state to let Iowans get close to it and ask questions.The students are now designing I-S-U’s sixth solar car, PrISUm Odyssey, which they intend to race in 2001 from Chicago to Los Angeles. He says it takes three years to design each car.The team’s journey around Iowa begins tomorrow and will include stops in: Des Moines, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Bettendorf, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.
