The Solar Team Twente has put Thursday’s solar car 21Connect shown. Through the application of nanotechnology in the coating hope the builders of the aerodynamic properties of the car even further.
The new solar car with a weight of 180kg according to the Solar Team Twente’s 30 percent lighter than its predecessor 21Revolution. The three-wheel vehicle is constructed according to a monocoque structure, whereby the outer shell and the chassis to form a single whole. The choice of materials for the 21Connect was a composite of koolstofvezelmatten and epoxy resin. It uses nanotechnology to small imperfections in the coating gap. Thanks to the very small particles the drag is significantly reduced.
To the aerodynamic properties continue to improve, the designers have especially rounded shapes applied. According to the builders is the drag of the 21Connect is ten times lower than that of a passenger car. There is also tinkered with the rear suspension. Thanks to a single suspension, with only a single central wheel nut, 16″tires during pit stops faster to be changed.
Because of the new competition rules for the World Solar Challenge, the Solar Team Twente has been selected for solar cells of crystalline silicon, which has an area cover of 6m2. Another option were more expensive, but better performing three-layer gallium-arsenidecellen, but this may only be a surface of 3m2 to take. The crystalline-siliciumzonnecellen offer a return of 20 percent and feed a 21kg heavy lithium-ion battery, which is a 9pk strong electric motor drives. Incidentally, were the solar cells during the presentation is still not on the 21Connect confirmed, because the Solar Team Twente, the competitors are not wiser wanted to make.
Except with the solar energy generated, the battery is also recharged with energy released during braking. The theoretical maximum speed of the 21Connect is 140km/h, but during the race is approximately 90km/h, with a consumption of about 1600W.
The Solar Team Twente will, like the Nuon Solar Team of the Delft university of technology, to participate in the World Solar Challenge. Participants must, within six days, a distance of 3010 km bridge, between the Australian cities of Darwin and Adelaide. During the previous race, which in 2009 was held, was the Twente team eighth.
In preparation for the World Solar Challenge keeps the team from Twente have a last test in a wind tunnel, then in september in Australia the vehicle for further testing. The World Solar Challenge starts on October 16. Whom the operations of the 18 man storey Solar Team Twente in the run-up to the match on the foot wants to follow, can do this via a mobile application. The app is available for iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and Symbian.
