Bunting has entered the world of solar-powered race cars. Our magnet experts recently provided the Brunel Solar Car Team with specialized magnet assemblies and technical consultation for the build of their innovative Nuna 12S solar car. The Nuna 12S will compete with other teams in the 16th Annual Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa. For this competition, teams from around the world develop, build and then attempt to drive solar-powered cars from Johannesburg to Cape Town without using any fuel.
Magnet Assemblies and Sustainable Magnet Technology Take Solar Race Cars to the Next Level
The Brunel Solar Car Team was created after a group of TU Delft students found inspiration in the film “Race the Sun.” The movie is about a group of Hawaiian high schoolers who race a solar-powered car in the 1990 World Solar Challenge in Australia. Taking a page out of the movie, the Brunel Solar Car Team developed their own solar car with the help of Wubbo Ockels, professor at TU Delft and the first Dutch astronaut. They competed in the 2001 World Solar Challenge and won the race. It was the first time that the race had been won by a newcomer.
Since then, the Brunel Solar Car Team has advocated for the power of sustainable energy through innovative technologies. They showcase the potential of solar power and push its boundaries. In doing so, the team has won four more World Solar Challenges and 11 other international championships.
The current Brunel Solar Car Team will compete in the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge taking place in September. During the initial planning stages, the team of 11 students identified a critical need for specialized technical assistance regarding magnets. Previous iterations of their motor designs had encountered persistent challenges with magnet performance, prompting the Brunel Solar Car Team to seek expert guidance. After reviewing various technical resources, including Bunting’s publications on sustainable magnet technologies, the team reached out to the company for advice on magnet selection, design, and assembly for their vehicle’s motor.
Matthew Swallow, Bunting’s Technical Product Manager, engaged with the team, drawing upon decades of experience to offer invaluable support. Through collaborative discussions, Swallow helped clarify the magnet specifications and recommended optimal assembly techniques.
Given the operational demands, the Brunel Solar Car Team opted for special permanent neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) rare earth magnets known for their high magnetic forces. Efficiency was paramount to maximize the conversion of solar energy into motion. Leveraging innovative magnet utilization, the motor was engineered to deliver exceptional torque per unit of energy input, significantly extending the solar vehicle’s range and enhancing its competitiveness on the track.
The Brunel Solar Team plans to unveil and test drive the new solar car in June 2024 before heading to the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa. Additional testing will occur in South Africa leading up to the race commencing on September 13th. The challenge aims to promote solar-powered vehicle development, striving for maximum distance coverage without fuel consumption.
“This is a great example of the important role magnets play in ‘green’ technology,” explained Matthew Swallow, Bunting’s Technical Product Manager. “The innovative Brunel Solar Team is pushing the boundaries of solar power technology and we were thrilled to support them with magnet materials and technical assistance. The development of solar power projects like this and other sustainable technology is vitally important as the world moves away from fossil fuels.”
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