The Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Sunchaser 4 has headed out on yet another solar-powered expedition. The student-built vehicle has just won the annual Sasol Solar Challenge, a race from Sasolburg in the Free State to Franschhoek in the Western Cape.
The solar-powered car, partially backed by automaker Ford in South Africa, completed the eight-day, 2,500km trip in first place. It’s not nearly as convenient as making the same trip by gas-powered BMW. For starters, the weather has to play along. As is usual for these, it didn’t.
SunChaser 4: The finish
A combination of cool, hot, and overcast conditions made this year’s Solar Challenge especially… well, challenging. The participants had to manage thermal conditions, battery and vehicle status, and also maximise how much power solar panels could generate with constant cleaning sessions.
SunChaser 4 driver Mpho Mogadimo said, “Winning the challenge is about so much more than crossing the finish line. Every day presented us with a different problem to solve, whether it was managing energy, responding to changing weather, or making technical adjustments on the road. We have been able to take what we learn in the classroom and test it in a real-world environment, where every decision has an immediate impact. To come away with the win makes that experience even more special.”
“[Ford’s] role has been to bring our engineering experience to the table and support them where needed, but the students have been the ones doing the thinking, learning and problem-solving. Seeing them cross the finish line as winners is a powerful reflection of what can happen when young engineering talent is given the opportunity to put theory into practice,” Ford South Africa’s Marko Venter added.
