Students from Eindhoven Technical University taking part in this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia will be aiming to blaze a winning trail in a stunning new vehicle featuring high performance coatings supplied
by AkzoNobel.
Unveiled by Solar Team Eindhoven in June, the Stella Vie
is a solar-powered family car capable of traveling 1,000km on
one full battery. As well as offering technical advice to the team,
AkzoNobel’s Specialty Coatings business also provided a range
of innovative products, including sustainable primers, basecoat
and clearcoat.
“Working with talented engineers and technicians is always a
great experience, particularly when it involves a project which is
so closely related to our own efforts to create a more sustainable
future,” said managing director of Specialty Coatings, Alberto
Slikta. “We pride ourselves on combining high performance
technology with world class color expertise and our exclusive
partnership with Solar Team Eindhoven is an exciting way to
showcase our capabilities.”
Added Beatrix Bos, public relations manager for Solar Team
Eindhoven: “Painting a solar car is not easy. AkzoNobel gave us
lots of advice on how to do the job and which materials to use
– and the end result looks fantastic.”
The team describes the car as “a balance between aerody-
namic, aesthetic and practical design.” It will provide a stern test
for the company’s coatings as it travels under the blistering sun
of the Australian desert.
However, it won’t be the first time AkzoNobel products have
been used in the competition. The company’s Sikkens brand has
partnered with the Dutch Nuon Solar team in the Challenger
class for many years – with the team claiming their sixth victory
the last time the event was staged in 2015.
The solar race’s strong focus on sustainability is also reflected
in several other ongoing partnerships. For example, AkzoNobel
is supplying coatings technology for The Ocean Cleanup for the
next five years, as well as coating all the boats competing in the
forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Bridgestone
World Solar Challenge takes place in October and involves
traveling 3,000km from Darwin to Adelaide. It will be the
third time that Solar Team Eindhoven has competed in the
event’s Cruiser class. CW
AkzoNobel Powers Dutch Students at
Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
