Solar Team Twente, a project of Twente University and Saxion University of applied Sciences in Holland, has arrived in Australia and is currently testing its solar-panelled car on Darwin outback roads, acclimatising to the torrid heat conditions they will encounter.
The World Solar Challenge, pioneered by the South Australian Tourism Commission is one the most prestigious events of its kind and attracts the world’s best technical universities and colleges.
To enter, teams must design and build a car capable of crossing Australia on the power of the sun, demanding the most innovative research and development trends in alternative transport technologies.
Océ has been an enthusiastic participant in the project since it was approached by Twente University to help sponsor the project.
The company has an announced interest in solar panel technology and is currently investigating how inkjet technology could be used in the process of solar cell production.
Printed solar cell techniques use solar cell material as ink, and a thin flexible plastic as a substrate. The process creates solar cells which can be competitive with current silicon ones, but the inkjet cells are much cheaper to produce, lowering production costs.
It is one of the technologies being examined by the Océ initiative PrintValley, a consortium of 23 knowledge institutes, universities and high-tech companies of all sizes working on advanced digital printing applications.
Within PrintValley, Océ is investigating the development of new printing platforms based on advanced inkjet technology for fields as varied as displays, packaging and security tags, as well as solar cells.
Océ Board member Anton Schaaf says: “For Océ, innovation has been essential for the entire life of the company. We have a strong interest in innovation in solar technology as we believe that our printing technology can play a very important role in that area.
"Basically, anything that can be printed, will be printed.
“The 23 parties that work together within PrintValley believe we are only at the beginning; fluid glass, fluid polymers and fluid metals are very encouraging developments. Once you have fluid as your ink, you can print basically anything.”
The solar-powered car, the 21Connect, is 4.3m in length, weighs a mere 180kg and is a tree-wheel, single-passenger vehicle.
Solar Team Twente spokesman Jens Hegeman says the air resistance of the 21Connect is about 10 times lower than the normal passenger car.
“Electricity consumption, at a cruising speed of, say, 90kms per hour, is just 1600 watts – equivalent to the consumption of a hair dryer,” he says. “Our theoretical top speed is about 145 kms per hour.”
Solar Team Twente consists of 18 people – all students – who have built the car and engineered the technology from scratch. 150 Dutch companies, including Océ, have contributed to the project to build and bring the car to Australia.
Despite the gruelling conditions of the race, Hegeman says the team is upbeat and confident about their chances in the World Solar Challenge. “Driving a car in 50 degrees Celsius is not easy; certainly it’s different to conditions in Holland. However we have time to acclimatise and we have an excellent car in 21Connect.”
Océ Australia
www.oce.com.au
 |
 |
 |
To enter, teams must design and build a car capable of crossing Australia on the power of the sun, demanding the most innovative research and development trends in alternative transport technologies.
Océ has been an enthusiastic participant in the project since it was approached by Twente University to help sponsor the project.
The company has an announced interest in solar panel technology and is currently investigating how inkjet technology could be used in the process of solar cell production.
Printed solar cell techniques use solar cell material as ink, and a thin flexible plastic as a substrate. The process creates solar cells which can be competitive with current silicon ones, but the inkjet cells are much cheaper to produce, lowering production costs.
It is one of the technologies being examined by the Océ initiative PrintValley, a consortium of 23 knowledge institutes, universities and high-tech companies of all sizes working on advanced digital printing applications.
Within PrintValley, Océ is investigating the development of new printing platforms based on advanced inkjet technology for fields as varied as displays, packaging and security tags, as well as solar cells.
Océ Board member Anton Schaaf says: “For Océ, innovation has been essential for the entire life of the company. We have a strong interest in innovation in solar technology as we believe that our printing technology can play a very important role in that area.
"Basically, anything that can be printed, will be printed.
“The 23 parties that work together within PrintValley believe we are only at the beginning; fluid glass, fluid polymers and fluid metals are very encouraging developments. Once you have fluid as your ink, you can print basically anything.”
The solar-powered car, the 21Connect, is 4.3m in length, weighs a mere 180kg and is a tree-wheel, single-passenger vehicle.
Solar Team Twente spokesman Jens Hegeman says the air resistance of the 21Connect is about 10 times lower than the normal passenger car.
“Electricity consumption, at a cruising speed of, say, 90kms per hour, is just 1600 watts – equivalent to the consumption of a hair dryer,” he says. “Our theoretical top speed is about 145 kms per hour.”
Solar Team Twente consists of 18 people – all students – who have built the car and engineered the technology from scratch. 150 Dutch companies, including Océ, have contributed to the project to build and bring the car to Australia.
Despite the gruelling conditions of the race, Hegeman says the team is upbeat and confident about their chances in the World Solar Challenge. “Driving a car in 50 degrees Celsius is not easy; certainly it’s different to conditions in Holland. However we have time to acclimatise and we have an excellent car in 21Connect.”
Océ Australia
www.oce.com.au
