Staged between Darwin and Adelaide
in Australia, the 3,000 km World Solar
Challenge race was won by the Nuon
Solar Team from Delft University of
Technology in The Netherlands in a
time of just over 33 hours. Their average speed was 90.71kph.
Key to its success was the use of
an ultra-light water-based composite pinhole filler (Aerowave 2501)
and an aerodynamic Sikkens coatings system which reduced wind
drag. The triumph comes just weeks
after the Dutch VeloX3 recumbent
bike – also coated by Sikkens –
broke the world record for a hu-man-powered vehicle.
“We’re delighted that our
long-standing partnership with
the students from Delft has produced another magnificent result
and we congratulate the team for
this fantastic achievement,” said
Klaas Kruithof, director of research, development and innovation for AkzoNobel’s Performance
Coatings activities. “It’s a great example of how we work closely with
industrial customers to develop
technically advanced coatings that
deliver outstanding performance.”
This year’s race represented the
fourth time that Sikkens technicians
have worked with the Delft team on
the Nuna project. The main addition
for 2013 was the new water-based
pinhole filler, which was originally
developed for use on aircraft. It was
combined with an aerodynamically advanced Sikkens coatings system to give
the vehicle the best possible chance of
finishing first. Which it did, 100km
ahead of the team in second.
Launched in 1987, the World
Solar Challenge is designed to
showcase the development of advanced automotive technology and
promote alternatives to conventional vehicle engines. CW
AkzoNobel Powers Nuna7 to Victory
The World Solar Challenge Race was won by he Nuon Solar Team from Delft University of Technology.
The main addition was the new water-based pinhole filler, which was originally developed for use on aircraft.
