Following the cancellation of the Australian ‘Bridgestone World Solar Challenge’, an alternative 2500km route was found which will take participants through the deserts and mountains of North Africa.
Due to begin on 23rd October 2021, the Dutch team of 19 university students, Solar Team Twente, will utilise the vacuum pump technology of its sponsor Leybold.
Expressing thanks to the team’s sponsors, Stijn Louws, Structural Designer of the solar car, said, “This has also been achieved with the help and support of our sponsors, so we feel well equipped and motivated to compete for the title in Morocco.”
Left: Stijn Louws, Structural Designer, Solar Team Twente ; right: Andries Verstraeten, Sales Engineer, Leybold Netherlands.
Source: Leybold
The team will use Leybold’s SOGEVAC 16 D vacuum pump, the compact design of which allows for vacuum infusion and lamination both in-house and at the race site. This process will allow the team to continue processing carbon and epoxy on-the-go.
With vacuum systems used in areas such as in the coating of solar modules or in the production of lithium-ion batteries, Leybold sees the collaboration as an opportunity to promote electromobility.
Andrie Verstraeten, Sales Engineer, Leybold Netherlands, commented, “It is my pleasure to support Solar Team Twente, we see the enormous potential of electromobility”
He added that Leybold is convinced that it can push the success of the racing team.