Adelaide, October 20, 2019 – Solar Team
Eindhoven from the Eindhoven University of Technology has won the first prize
in the Cruiser Class of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) for the
fourth time in a row. We completed the more than 3,000-kilometer drive from
Darwin to Adelaide with the highest efficiency score of all teams. Also on the
assessment of the solar car by a professional jury, yesterday, we scored 93.1
points.
This makes us the consecutive winner of all
editions of the Cruiser Class since it was founded in 2013. The class was introduced
in 2013 to bridge the gap between the well-known World Solar Challenge and the
use of cars in daily life. The new class was meant to close that gap and the
innovations from the World Solar Challenge really find their way into the
automotive sector. In the Cruiser Class not necessarily the fastest car wins,
but the one that excels in efficiency, comfort, design and innovations.
Highest score for efficiency and innovation
We achieved a total score of 103.9 points,
of which 111.7 points for efficiency and 93.1 for comfort and innovations. After
we crossed the finish line on Friday at 11.30 a.m. (local time), we presented
the practical utility, comfort and technical innovations on Saturday to a jury among
which were Tesla and Lightyear. The practicality is particularly important
because it weighs equally heavy as the efficiency score. With unique features
such as autonomously chasing the sun and the sharing of solar energy with other
electric cars, Solar Team Eindhoven with their four-person solar car, Stella
Era, achieved great success.
Challenges
The team was extra euphoric because we had
serious setbacks. For example, Stella Era arrived with a damaged solar panel in
Darwin and we had problems with the electrical system two weeks before the
start, the cause of which was initially unknown. Carijn Mulder, team manager,
says: “Due to the setbacks in the preparation, we missed a lot of test
days, so we were unsure of what awaited us during the Challenge.”
Moreover, the strong headwind on the
longest stage of 1200 kilometers was quite a challenge. The team had to bridge
that distance on a single battery charge. Solar Team Eindhoven was one of the
two teams that completed this stage on time and they managed to avoid a time
penalty.
Fourth
victory
In her victory speech during the Award
Ceremony, Carijn proudly spoke about the challenges the team has overcome. “It
was certainly not obvious that we could become world champions for the fourth
time. All challenges have kept the team sharp during the preparations and the
race until the last moment. We are all very proud of our high scores and the
victory ”.
The students drove at an average speed of
almost 80 km/h and charged an additional 71.24 kWh over the entire distance via
a charging station. For comparison: an ordinary electric car, without solar
panels, has to charge about ten times as much energy.
