On 25 July the Nuon Solar Team presented its new solar vehicle Nuna9. The solar-powered car will compete in the 14TH edition of the World Solar Challenge in October 2017. This SOLAR race is held every two years, covering 3000 km through the Australian outback, from Darwin to Adelaide. AOC is the innovation partner of the Nuon Solar Team. The construction and outer shell of the Nuna9 have been manufactured with a styrene-free Beyone™ resin from AOC.
CHANGING REGULATIONS
In this year’s edition of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the organization committee has significantly adjusted the regulations for the participants. An important change is the reduction of solar surface from 6 to 4 m2. Jasper Hemmes, team responsible for aerodynamics, explains: “With the Nuna9 design we are making a major step in solar racing. The changing rules made us reconsider the entire design of the car, which resulted in a unique compact shape with excellent aerodynamic performance. To give you an idea, the overall air resistance is pretty close to the resistance of a single side mirror in a Tesla car.”
TEAM UP FOR MAKING A GREAT CAR
The construction of the Nuna9 vehicle was done by the team at the Polymer Science Park in Zwolle, next to the AOC R&D Center. “AOC supported the Nuon Solar Team with innovative composites application technology, and provided hands-on support in manufacturing”, comments Paul Vercoulen, CTO of AOC. “The construction is stiffer, stronger and lighter compared to previous Nuna versions, which means a faster, safer and more energy efficient car.”
The Nuna9 has been made with Beyone® Styrene-free resin systems. These sustainable resins feature close-to-zero smell and solvent emissions, and are environmentally preferred alternatives to conventional styrene-based resin systems. The result is a superb Nuna9 vehicle that combines light weight, great aerodynamics, and dimensional stability at elevated temperatures.
REVOLUTIONARY
The solar car has been kept away from competition until the last moment. “The structure and design of Nuna9 are truly revolutionary, and we prefer to not give our competitors too many bright ideas” adds Sander Koot, Team Leader of the Nuon Solar Team. “In the last few editions of the World Solar Challenge, the competition keeps getting closer. We are proud to see that some of the innovations we have introduced in earlier Nuna vehicles can be seen back in cars from our competitors. the exact details on the inside of the car we keep to ourselves, as also this year we are eager to bring home the first prize.”
NUNA9 DETAILS
- Nuna9 is the 9th solar vehicle built by the Nuon Solar Team
- 135 kg of vehicle weight
- 30.3 % less surface
- 2.64 m2 solar panel surface area
- 20 kg weight of the battery
- 3 female drivers this year
- 3 is the official number of the Nuna during the race
- 3000 km distance between Darwin and Adelaide.
- 8 October start of the race, envisioned finish on 12 October
- 6 times the World Solar Challenge has been won by the Nuon Solar Team, incl. the last edition in 2015
- The team consist of 16 enthusiastic students of Delft University of Technology
Nuna9 pictures © Jorrit Lousberg and Nuon Solar Team
