It is amazing to be part of this journey. We started with literally nothing and right now the aerodynamic group finished its design phase, multiple sponsors signed contracts, our own foundation has been realized but more important: we have grown as a team. In a short time, we grew from a group of students to a professional team.

2015 is going to be a promising year for the team. This year we will reveal our design, present our car, travel to Australia and complete the World Solar Challenge. We hope to inspire many people with our car. We believe in a world without fossil fuel and where cars as we drive them right now are no longer needed. Our car will be the next step towards a fully solar powered vehicle.

 

DESIGNING YOUR CAR

MICHAEL STRUIK

One of the main challenges of our entire team was to create a car that brings a “wow, I definitely want that car” effect. This is largely influenced by the looks and exterior design of the car. Great aerodynamic performance is key in this design, to make the car as energy efficient as possible. Reaching both of these goals has been an amazing challenge, but we fulfilled them and are very proud of the end result! Now that the design is finished, the structural engineers are able to design the chassis. We have been closely cooperating with them during the exterior design phase, to ensure that all of our ideas can be realized and to make sure our car will be road legal.

One of the main things we wanted to improve were the looks of our car. That is why we took a designer, Sander, in our team. We combined aerodynamic performance with aesthetics looks and found a shape that makes our heart beat faster.
 
We looked at aerodynamic performance and aesthetics but also the way how solar panels generate energy. With all these aspects in mind we delivered the best possible performance. These aspects were used, together with the entire team’s imagination, to create a wide range of concepts. The concepts were converted into 3D models using CAD software, after which the aerodynamic performance was assessed using Computational Fluid Dynamics calculations.
 
We cannot wait to show our final design to the world. It is, what we believe, an optimum between a solar car and a performance car. But for now, the design will remain confidential until our car presentation. Until then, stay tuned!

 

MAKING THE SKELETON

MATHIJS BRANDS

Now Aero has finalized the exterior design of our car, we are able to design the chassis. The chassis is like the skeleton of the car, it will keep the car together and protects the passengers during an accident. Designing the chassis involves making decisions about the shape of the doors, the mounting of the suspension, and attachment for the seatbelts, where the doors will be placed, where the seats will be installed, where the seatbelts will be fastened and so on. The main goal is to design a stiff and strong chassis that is as light as possible. In short: we will calculate how to make the car stiff and strong enough and to make it as light as possible. Looking back at our preparations of last few months I am confident that Dennis, Mathijs (Meulendijks) and I will design a chassis that will keep you safe in the car of the future!

The year 2014 was a hectic one. But we’re just beginning. As you may know, one year to design and build a roadworthy car is quite short. It is quite a challenge to fit all the parts in our very tight schedule. On the other hand, it is very exciting to taste the newest technologies of the companies we’re working with. We’ve covered a fair part of our car in terms of production and parts, but we’re not there yet. For our suspension and our car body we are searching for partners that can mill aluminum parts. If you know anyone involved in this business, we would love to hear from you so you can contribute to the car of the future!

THEY MAKE THIS JOURNEY POSSIBLE

BECOME PART OF THE JOURNEY