Solar Challanges
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
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ILUMEN EUROPEAN SOLAR CHALLENGE
The iLumen European Solar Challenge is an international solar-powered car race that takes place in Belgium. The competition attracts teams from around the world who design, build, and race solar-powered cars in an endurance event. It is the world’s only 24-hour endurance race for solar cars and it takes place on the former Formula 1 circuit in Zolder.
During the race, each team aims to cover the greatest distance possible while optimizing power consumption and aerodynamics. This requires a high level of engineering expertise and innovation, as well as careful planning and strategy. The race also includes specific challenges such as the most consistent 8 lap times and the fastest lap time, which require teams to balance speed and efficiency.
One of the unique features of the iLumen European Solar Challenge is that teams are allowed a maximum of 2 charging stops to recharge the battery, even at night. This adds an additional level of complexity to the race, as teams must carefully manage their energy usage to ensure they have enough power to complete the full 24 hours.
The start of the race is similar to that of the 24-hour race at Le Mans, adding to the excitement and prestige of the event.
Link to the competition’s website: iLumen European Solar Challenge
Results
Italian Solar Challenge
The Italian Solar Challenge comprises two distinct components: the solar endurance race and the Tech Talk. During the Tech Talk, solar teams are given a 30-minute window to present their innovative projects and explain the technical concepts behind their solar cars to a jury made up of engineers from Bugatti and Ferrari. The best presentation is awarded a prize.
The solar race is held on a 5 km-long Formula 1 track and is preceded by scrutineering and qualifying rounds, which determine the starting position for each solar car. On race day, a flying start is initiated, and the solar cars follow the lead car for a lap before the actual race commences. The race course consists of 17 challenging curves, and the incline of the track pushes the solar cars to their limits. The race comprises two two-hour stints, separated by a break during which the solar car can recharge in the sun. The team with the most laps at the end of the race is declared the winner.
Results
INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Olimpiu Dărăban
Olimpiu Dărăban, a former student of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, being passionate about motorsport, founded Olson Engineering, which addresses a niche area in the automotive industry: Races where classic cars compete. Thus, the products they develop / design within the company are highly customized and require solid knowledge of mechanics to reach new heights of performance of these vintage engineering jewelry.
Conf. Dr. Ing. Mihai Comșiț
Mihai Comșiț is a professor at the Transilvania University of Brașov with a broad experience in the automotive domain. Over the years he published multiple scientific papers on topics such as: The role of mechanisms in sustainable energy systems, Virtual prototyping of the solar tracking systems, Tracking system for solar energy conversion devices. He is also the coordinator of BlueStreamline, a Formula student team.
Prof. Dr. Ing. Paul Bere
Paul Bere is a professor at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca with over 36 years of experience in the field of composite materials. Since 2000 he started to work with several companies in the field of motorsport. He was involved in several projects related to the production of composite materials parts. In recent years he worked with Kodewa Gmbh Germany in order to design and manufacture racing cars that participated in the World Championship Le Mans Series P2, P1 (Lotus T128 P2 și CLM P1/01).