The Brunel Solar Team, a non-profit prestige project with students from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, is returning to South Africa to defend their title at the Sasol Solar Challenge. This year, the team will be facing even more extreme conditions than in previous years, including enormous altitude differences, severe weather conditions, and busy cities. The race takes place from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and will test the teams' endurance over eight days. The team with the most kilometers driven after eight days wins the race.

The Brunel Solar Team has partnered with AIKO, a global leader in solar technology, for the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge. This collaboration brings together AIKO's state-of-the-art solar cells and the Brunel Solar Team's cutting-edge solar car design. This partnership aims to demonstrate the immense potential of solar technology in real-world applications, particularly in high-stakes, competitive environments like the Sasol Solar Challenge.

The Brunel Solar Team and AIKO

The partnership between the Brunel Solar Team and AIKO is a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration. Huub Kavelaars, Partnerships and Finance Manager of the Brunel Solar Team, and one of the four drivers in the race, said, “We are thrilled to partner with AIKO in our quest to cover the most kilometers in the world’s toughest solar challenge. With AIKO’s cutting-edge solar technology, we are confident that our solar car will not only be the most efficient but also a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration. Together, we are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in solar energy.”

The Brunel Solar Team's Nuna 12S

The Brunel Solar Team has developed a new solar car, the Nuna 12S, for the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge. The car features a new motor that uses an innovative production method to generate energy. The motor contains a strong type of steel also used in motorsports and is lighter than previous years. Willem van Overbeeke, Electrical Engineer at the Brunel Solar Team, said: “With the implementation of the two magnetic rings, we have achieved a remarkable innovation this year. And we will do everything we can to win the South African title with our Nuna 12S.”

The Sasol Solar Challenge

The Sasol Solar Challenge is a biennial competition that has been taking place since 2008. The competition spans over 2,500km, and has been a platform for demonstrating the transformative power of solar energy on a global scale. The race is not just about racing, but also about inspiring communities along the route to embrace renewable energy and STEM education. The event has visited roughly 50 towns in eight of the nine provinces in South Africa and has inspired thousands of school children. Each day, solar cars in the Challenger, Cruiser, and Adventure Class and their support vehicles traverse a route of between 250km and 300 km.

The Brunel Solar Team will be up against the likes of 2022 and 2023 Ilanga Cup Solar Challenge winners, the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Sunchaser 4. In March, TUT announced that its solar electric vehicle project, under which the Sunchaser 4 was developed, received a research grant of 50,000 GBP ($65,580.75 at today’s rate) as part of an existing partnership between itself and the University of Southampton in the UK. The project has been developed by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). Dr Christiaan Oosthuizen, leader of the solar car team and lecturer at FEBE’s Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, said that a previous grant strengthened the collaboration with the University of Southampton and contributed largely to the current Sunchaser 4 prototype vehicle and the development of the new vehicle, which would be the first multi-seater solar-powered electric vehicle in Africa.

The Future of Solar Technology

The partnership between the Brunel Solar Team and AIKO is a sign of the growing importance of solar technology. The Sasol Solar Challenge is a platform for demonstrating the transformative power of solar energy on a global scale. The Brunel Solar Team is excited to be part of this event and to showcase the potential of solar technology to the world.