ARMdevices.net

Interview of Winnifred Noorlander from the Nuon Solar Team by Dr Peter Harrop of IDTechEx. Nuon Solar Team currently employs nine students from Delft University of Technology. Much of its innovation is constrained by the rules of the solar race such as being limited to 3sq. meters of GaAs or 6 sq. meters of single crystal silicon PV. Nonethelesss, innovative suspension has been developed of unusually small size to fit the aerodynamic shell. In past years they have tried concentrators and GaAs. Regenerative braking is the only viable regenerative harvesting within the rules. They have remarkably efficient traction motors at 96%. Power electronics is secret but they are aware of the potential of the new SiC and GaN power components not least in lightweighting and improving efficiency. They are interested in the Sabic lighter-weight polycarbonate cowl glazing. They do not yet have structural electronics beyond the PV forming the outer surface. The vehicles are entirely carbon fiber except the aluminium suspension. The racer is currently a mere 150 kg.