The Brunel Solar Team unveiled its new solar car Nuna 12S during their official car reveal at Door Open Space at the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam. The solar car features the self-developed motor XII-S with two magnetic rings. This innovative drive gives the car more power and allows it to cover kilometres more efficiently. With Nuna 12S, the team of eleven TU Delft students will compete for the world title during the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa from 13 to 20 September.
Using an innovative production method, the Brunel Solar Team developed a motor in which a magnetic inner and outer ring generate the energy. Where regular electric motors have one magnetic ring, this motor can deliver more power with the same amount of energy. In addition, the motor contains a strong type of steel that is also used in racing. Moreover, the motor is lighter than previous years.
Magnet specialist
The team worked with specialist partners, including a magnet specialist, to develop the motor. "Every year, the team develops its own car that includes a solar panel, a battery and a board computer. But in designing and producing our own engine, we kept running into problems in previous years. I am therefore very proud that we did succeed this year," says Willem van Overbeeke, Electrical Engineer at the Brunel Solar Team. "With the implementation of the two magnetic rings, we managed to achieve a special innovation this year. And we are going to do everything we can to win the South African title with our Nuna 12S."
Striking design
Besides the advanced motor, Nuna 12S also has a striking design. This year, the Delft blue colour and the Big Five play the main role in the solar car's appearance. "The Big Five refers to our potential fifth title in South Africa. It is our 'fifth ring' to speak in Olympic terms.
Big Five
The five animals of the Big Five all symbolise a specific characteristic. The elephant stands for wisdom and the rhinoceros for resilience. We also see these characteristics in our team," says Cato Kral, Team Leader of the Brunel Solar Team. "Thus we have the knowledge to innovate again and again, and we can deal with setbacks during the race. We prepare ourselves to the maximum in order to safely achieve the utmost in solar energy and mobility. In addition, the Delft blue on the car naturally refers to our TU Delft background. That way we take a little bit of home with us to South Africa after all."
Most extreme solar race ever
Compared to past years, this year's solar race has an even more extreme format. This time, the solar cars will race from Johannesburg to Cape Town over eight days. In the process, they will face huge differences in altitude, harsh weather conditions and crowded cities. They also have to deal with stages whose route is only shared a short time in advance. These are the so-called half-blind and blind stages.
Most kilometres
The team with the most kilometres after eight days, wins the race. Kral: "This year, everything is different. The new format makes for other strategic considerations. For example, how do you make sure you drive as many loops as possible every day, without getting a time penalty the next day because you came in too late at the finish? We also have to take into account rapidly changing weather conditions. In addition, we also ride on public roads. Fortunately, former Olympic coach Marc Lammers teaches us to work together as a high-performance team. As a result, we are up to these difficult conditions. Therefore, I have no doubt that with our expertise, ambition and perseverance, we will find an appropriate strategy to win the race."
Track Brunel Solar Team
Over the next three months, the team will enter a testing and preparation process. In doing so, the team will test the solar car extensively on various circuits in the Netherlands. The team can shape itself into a real racing team. Then, the presented Nuna 12S will leave for South Africa in August. The team will also go to South Africa in August to explore part of the route and make the very last preparations.
About the Brunel Solar Team:
- A new team of TU Delft students is put together every year. For over a year, the students set aside their studies to develop a solar car and compete in an international solar race.
- Brunel has been the team's main sponsor since 2022. Brunel connects top specialists to challenging projects.
- The team's goal is to inspire the world in the field of sustainable mobility and innovation.
About the car:
- Nuna 12s features a motor developed by the team itself. The special feature of this motor is that it has two rings of magnets as opposed to 'regular' motors that have one ring of magnets. The second ring of magnets gives the engine more power and the team expects to be able to brave the mountains in South Africa with it.
- The solar car includes an updated solar panel, which is still being fine-tuned until departure for South Africa.
- The solar panel is flexible because it is made of PET materials.
- On the top sheet of the solar panel (topsheet) is a microstructure that ensures less reflection of sunlight bounces off the panel.
- We aim to use less weight in wiring the solar panel.
About the race:
- TU Delft's Brunel Solar Team is competing for the fifth time in the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa this September. This race is organised every two years.
- The Sasol Solar Challenge is an 8-day race from Johannesburg to Cape Town. In total, more than 4,000 kilometres will be covered. Solar race teams from all over the world participate in the race.
- The goal of the Sasol Solar Challenge is to cover the most number of kilometres. This is in contrast to the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge where the aim is to cross the finish line as fast as possible.
- Already 4 times, the team has won the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa. In addition, the team has 7 world titles to its name by winning the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia.
Read also: Solar cells integrated into engine covers
Photographer opening photo: Jorrit Lousberg
