ENGINEERING STUDENTS OF KU LEUVEN WIN EUROPEAN SOLAR CHALLENGE 2020

STUDENT IN FOCUS

The Agoria Solar Team of KU Leuven continues to pile up the victories. After a first place in the Carrera Solar Atacama in Chile and the world title in the Bridgestone World Challenge in Australia, the team finished first in the European championship in Zolder (Belgium). Now it is looking forward to the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa in February 2021.

The Agoria Solar Team consists of 19 engineering students of KU Leuven with a mission. They aim to do more than just building the most efficient solar racing car and winning championships. By developing a race car that combines the innovative ideas of bright engineering talents with the Belgian and international technologies, the team wants to inspire young people to take an interest in science and technology and raise awareness of renewable energy among the public. “With the support of our Belgian and international business partners, we are convinced that we can act as a catalyst in the process of making commercial solar-powered electric vehicles available to the general public”, says team leader Paul Van Hemeldonck. “We strive to show the world that Belgium is still in the frontline of innovative technology. We also want to show that we are entrepreneurial engineers and worthy ambassadors of our university and its faculties of Engineering”.

Two cars

In September 2020, the Solar Team took part in the 24 hours race with two solar cars: the Bluepoint built in 2019 and the Punch 2, developed by the former solar team. The Bluepoint, which became world champion in Australia last year, crossed the finish line in Zolder with the highest number of laps. “We owe our victory to a fast car and a well-thought-out race strategy”, explains Romanie Cnockaert, strategist of the Solar Team.

“During the race, for example, it is permitted to recharge the battery twice. We chose to charge only once, which allowed us to drive laps for an extra hour. In this way, we improved the record for the highest number of laps in 24 hours by a fourth”.

The Punch 2, built in 2017, crossed the line in sixth place. “That has everything to do with the age difference”, says race engineer Kenneth Goovaerts. “For each addition, the cars are equipped with the latest technologies and these are changing rapidly. That’s exactly why the Solar Team builds a brand new solar car for the world championship”.

Next adventure

The victory at the European championship is the third in a row for the KU Leuven Solar Team. In 2018, the team finished first after a grueling race through the Atacama desert and mountains in Chile. The following year, the team became world champion at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a challenging race of more than 3,000 km through Australia. Currently, the team is preparing for the next adventure: the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa in February 2021.

Yves Persoons