South African Solar Challenge

The Sasol Solar Challenge is a South African endurance challenge for solar-powered vehicles, with classes for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and biofuel-powered vehicles as well. Recognised by the International Solarcar Federation, the first challenge was run in 2008, and every two years thereafter. The event covers roughly 2,500 km, but has set loops for teams to repeat, with the potential to do 5,000 km. The current record, held by Dutch team Nuon, is 4,716 km, set in 2016 in their car Nuna. The challenge route may change from year to year. In 2022, it ran from Carnival City near Johannesburg to Cape Town over the course of 8 days. The challenge has both local South African teams from both high schools and universities participate, as well as some top-ranking international teams from Japan (Tokai), Belgium (Innoptus Solar Team previously known as Agoria) and the Netherlands (Brunel Solar Team previously known as Vattenfall/Nuon).

Route Map of "Sasol Solar Challenge 2010"
Tokai University's solar car "Tokai Challenger" running in front of the Table Mountain in Cape Town. It became a winner of "South African Solar Challenge 2010" again.
WSS-1 (Wits Super Solar 1), the first generation Wits University entry
Tokai University's solar car "Tokai Falcon". The winner of "South African Solar Challenge 2008".
CAUTION-IMPALA! (3rd day of SASC 2008)

Objective

The primary objective is to design, manage, build and race solar powered-vehicles across South Africa. The challenge sees a collaboration between pupils, students, private individuals and various industry and government partners, to work together to have a safe, technology-rich event. Moreover, the challenge is seen as an educational tool to focus on and communicate about science and technology to the broad public.

Results

2022 edition

The Netherlands finished first, in a second place with +38km was Belgium and bronze went to Sunchaser, from South African university TUT.

See also
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