VIRO signs RED sponsorship contract with Solar Team Twente
On Friday 16 October, VIRO signed a contract to sponsor Solar Team Twente for the next edition. In addition to providing a financial contribution, VIRO will help Solar Team Twente develop their sustainable solar car for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2021, which takes place in Australia on 22 October. VIRO's engineers from a number of fields of work will contribute to potential solutions to achieve better performance for the solar car.
On the race...
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a race in which only solar-powered cars participate and takes place once every two years. This race represents a showcase of new and advanced car technologies as well as a way to promote sustainable developments.
The race goes straight through the Australian outback, from Darwin (up North) to Adelaide (down South) on the Stuart Highway. The race spans over 3,000 km of public roads that host a range of challenges. Solar Team Twente is participating in the challenger class – the formula 1 of solar-powered cars. While the race says they need to cross the finish line first, having the fastest car does not guarantee victory. It is of the utmost importance to have a strategy that takes into account the weather, the energy supply and output, the condition of the roads, and traffic.
On the team...
Solar Team Twente consists of 19 students who study at the University of Twente or Saxion University of Applied Sciences. Their ultimate goal is to build the most efficient solar-powered car on the basis of the newest technologies and have that car participate – on 22 October 2021 – in the most prestigious solar-powered car race in the world: The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2021
The goal...
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge improves sustainable transport. Participating teams are challenged to design a car that can travel over 3,000 kilometres within six days, using nothing but solar power. As the rules are changed for almost every edition, the participating teams are encouraged to achieve technological innovations.
Contributing to the Global Goals
With this project, Solar Team Twente is contributing to three of the seventeen Global Goals set out by the United Nations as global goals for sustainable development (from 2016 to 2030).
Solar power
Planet earth needs to be protected from excessive warming caused by the sun, while the sun represents a source of life and renewable energy. We are focussing on renewable energy and building the newest high-tech solar-powered car: Red Shift.
Technologies and innovations
By creating the best solar-powered car in the world, we are developing technologies and innovations for the efficient use of solar energy as a source of energy for vehicles. For this reason, this example of automotive technology and innovation will make the difference.
Reducing sound and emissions
In our urbanised world, mobility and transport are the crucial veins in the networks created by metropolises. Quality of life is determined by quality of traffic and transport. Reducing noise and emissions is key. The solar-powered electric car represents the 21st century's revolution.
If you want to know more about the team or the race, then visit our website or YouTube channel or follow the team on one of their social media channels.