Newsletter 19: Developing Step By Step

04 - 11 - 2016

Solar Team Eindhoven Newsletter #19

NEWSLETTER 19:
DEVELOPING STEP BY STEP

MEET THE HUMAN-VEHICLE INTERACTION TEAM!

Henk Alkema and Willem Zwager

Computer Sciences and Industrial Design

Numbers are not the only thing that matter. We also want our new solar car to be the most comfortable, innovative and intuitive solar car.

These first few months were by far the most relevant for us. Of course, it is important for our solar car to be super-efficient and to look great, but we want to improve other aspects as well. We, one designer and one software engineer, complete opposites in both study and personality, are on the team to make that happen. Bundling our strengths, we are thinking of innovative solutions to bring the high-tech solar car closer to you. While Willem is responsible for the placement and visual design of the interaction systems in the car, it is up to Henk to find technological solutions to realize these systems.

The decisions we made as a team have a lot of influence on the work we are going to deliver. After lots and lots of brainstorms and team meetings, we have reached a promising conclusion. Oh, we’d love to tell you. But to keep it a bit more exciting, let’s keep it a secret for now. So, unfortunately, you will have to wait for the official presentation to see what we have cooked up!

WIN A RIDE IN OUR NEW SOLAR CAR!

In 2015 we had an overwhelming Solar Mile Club consisting our most involved supporters. In total we sold 421 miles! We want to thank the Solar Mile Club 2015 for their support.
While we are working hard on our concept and design of the new solar car, we also need the resources to be able to build the car. Without the support of our fans we are not able to create the car of the future. Therefore the new Solar Mile Club 2017 is opened. To make it even more special: among the first 150 Solar Miles we will raffle off a ride in the new solar car! Become part of the Solar Mile Club 2017 and win!

STELLA GOES MARRAKESH!

You will never get enough of Solar Team Eindhoven; at the moment our former members Jelmer, Arjo and Tommie are traveling to Marrakech. Together with Ericsson, one of our partners in 2015, they will present Stella, world’s first solar powered family car, at the Climate Change Conference. They want to show that driving on solar energy is not that far away from today.

With our new bus we are perfectly able to pull our trailer with Stella, thank you Driessen! The former members have put this bus-trailer-Stella combination to the test in the narrow streets of the Pyrenean mountain villages and passed with flying colors!
Wherever we come, Belgium, France, Spain or Morocco, we have noticed that the international enthusiasm has not decreased. At every stop we meet fans of Solar Team Eindhoven and our Stella. Is does not matter if it is a truck driver or an electrical airplane engineer, they are all amazed by our project. Who knows, perhaps they will drive on solar energy in the future? Time will tell us while we do best.

TROUW SUSTAINABLE 100!

On the 10th of October we were invited to the announcement of the most sustainable person of 2016 organized by the Dutch newsletter Trouw. At this special moment, where amongst others her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien, Maurits Groen and the new number one Willem Ferwerda were present, we were asked to give a short pitch on stage to inspire the attendees. We met the sustainable pioneers of the Netherlands and we received many positive reactions on our presentation; overall a lovely, green evening!

STATUS UPDATE:
WHAT HAVE WE DONE THE FIRST TWO MONTHS?

The first two months passed by with the speed of internet, which is pretty fast these days! Step by step we are developing the new solar. Before we could even start with that, we had to find out what kind of car we want to build.

With the entire team we had more than 10 brainstorm sessions where difficult questions popped up and many structured discussions followed. We are proud to say that we now have a concept that every member supports for 100%! But what that concept exactly is, is still our big secret…

Brainstorm and discussion

TRAINING TEAM 2017

Besides gaining knowledge about batteries, solar cells, aerodynamics and other vehicle dynamics, we are also learning more about teamwork and the individual team members. To help us with this we had a personality training, given by Paul Driessen of Delphi Mindconnection. This provided us with some interesting and fun insights about ourselves and our team members!

Next up is a team workshop given by Martijn van Westrop, a former hockey player and performance coach. He will address the importance of keeping an eye on each other throughout the project. While we know the challenge of building a solar car is big we often underestimate the effect personal challenges can have on us as a team. That is why we want to be ready to tackle those challenges when they show up!

Training Paul Driessen

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR LOGO HERE? CONTACT US!

BECOME PART OF THE JOURNEY

Support us by buying a Solar Mile

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Address

Visiting address
Location Horsten 8
Building 83 (Momentum)
5612 AX Eindhoven
The Netherlands

Postal address
Building 83 (Momentum)
P.O. box 513
5600MB Eindhoven
The Netherlands

Foundation

Solar Team Eindhoven
Tel +31 40 247 4254

Team Manager
Carijn Mulder
E-mail [email protected]

Account Manager
Pam Boerdonk
E-mail [email protected]

Public Relations
Marije Sesink
E-mail [email protected]

Events
Marije Sesink & Sander van den Berg
E-mail [email protected]

Technical Acquisition Manager
Evan Quadvlieg
E-mail [email protected]