The Technical University of Delft has done it again – they’re the champions for the seventh time in fourteen years of the World Solar Challenge! Their solar panel plastered race car was the first to cross the finish line in Australia’s city of Adelaide after a whopping three-thousand kilometer journey!
Eat your Heart Out Mad Max!
The yearly race takes place in Australia and crosses through its unbearably warm and enormous desert wastelands – and when we mean unbearably warm we’re talking 40 to 50C (122F!) temperatures inside the vehicle cockpit.
Team Delft’s vehicle “Nuna” made the journey from Darwin (in the North) to Adelaide (South) in five days with an average speed of just over 81 Km/H but reaching top speeds of 110 Km/H, the latter being about the average speed most of us go on the freeway – the previous about the speed trucks go on the highway.
And for good measure, Nuna didn’t just win a little bit – she won a lot of bit! Open crossing the finish line she was at least 100 kilometers ahead of her competition, coming out textbook superior in the “Challenger-Class” competition of fastest vehicles. She, and the others, also didn’t have an easy time as storm and cloud coverage took control of the sky. However, due to its incredibly aerodynamic design the vehicle managed to weather the storm with relatively little trouble.
Team member Jasper Hemmes said: “Thanks to Nuna’s lightweight and streamlined design we could still make significant speed with little energy, despite strong winds. We were kind’ve sucked forward by the strong winds due to its aerodynamic properties.”
Going for the Double Solar Win – TU Eindhoven in the Lead!
But that’s not all, TU Eindhoven is competing in the “Cruiser-Challenge” which requires each solar car to bring a passenger with on the same journey and have to be even more efficient than the Challenger-class vehicles. Current standing the Solar Team Eindhoven’s vehicle is holding lead towards the finish line but are still underway. Needless to say, we’re very proud in Holland and excited to see if they can pull off a double victory for our small but ambitious nation. Either way, we will be very glad to see them all finish the challenge in good health and with functioning vehicles. On to the next Solar Challenge, mates!
