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Daniel Blik has travelled to Australia from the Netherlands to take part in a race in which his hi-tech vehicle will likely be overtaken by grey nomads towing caravans.
Luckily, it’s not the hope of lightning-fast speed that draws competitors from around the world to Australia to take part in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
The manager of Solar Team Twente from the Netherlands told SBS News that the event is more than just a race.
“For us, it’s very important to show that there are other modes of transport available and that actual sustainable mobility is an option,” he said.
Almost 40 sun-powered cars will set off from Darwin on Sunday as part of the challenge.
International teams, many representing universities, have descended on Darwin for the beginning of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Source: Supplied / Timo Hoogewoonink
All of the vehicles taking part have been designed, engineered and built by the teams racing them.
The course, which covers just over 3,000 kilometres through the Australian outback, from the Darwin to Adelaide, takes place every two years.
The event aims to promote the development of energy-efficient transport as part of global decarbonisation efforts.
It often attracts teams from international universities and technical institutes as well as private entrepreneurs.
Vehicles compete within three different ‘classes’, allowing a variety of technology to be showcased.
Kevin van der Putte is a member of the Innoptus Solar Team from Belgium, which topped the competition’s ‘challenger’ class in both 2023 and 2021.
Their vehicle completed the course travelling at an average speed of 88 km per hour.
“Our solar car is a really aerodynamic car, it’s super light, it only weighs around 70 kilograms, purely made out of carbon,” he said.
“And it also doesn’t require fuel, so it only uses the energy of the sun.”
Jules Teeuwen will be behind the wheel for the Brunel Solar Team from the Netherlands.
He said conditions in the car posed challenges to drivers.
“It’s not very comfortable, in fact, in previous editions, we measured temperatures of up to 55 degrees Celsius, and you can also lose up to five kilos of sweat after one drive of the solar car,” Teeuwen said.
The event continues until 31 August, giving teams just over a week to complete the challenge.
