Setback for Brunel Solar Team: defective motor in the most extreme solar car challenge

The innovative new motor, with two magnetic rings, was put to the test on the second day of the challenge. Part of the route included a 400-meter mountain pass, which caused the motor to overheat and required an early replacement. “Our custom motor was promising with its high efficiency, and we were confident it could handle the elevation changes in South Africa. Unfortunately, things turned out differently today,” said Cato Kral, team leader of the Brunel Solar Team. “This is what happens when you innovate and take risks. Our motto is to face challenges head-on, and that’s exactly what we did. I’m very proud that we managed to carry out the replacement so quickly, and despite this setback, we still finished first today.”

Today, the teams traveled from Sasolburg to Zeerust. The Brunel Solar Team was prepared for several challenges for their solar car, Nuna 12s. In addition to elevation changes, the team faced numerous traffic lights and roundabouts. “To anticipate the exact traffic situation, we scouted the route in advance,” said Sterre van der Wal, the team’s strategist. “For instance, we timed how long traffic lights stay red so that we can calculate the exact speed Nuna needs to maintain to hit a green light. We also know how long specific tasks take, such as today’s motor replacement. We could anticipate this immediately and factor it into our time calculations for the long-term strategy.”

The Sasol Solar Challenge includes three unique days, one of which is the so-called Marathon Stage. This means that after the finish, only three team members are allowed to work on their solar car until 10:00 PM, using only the tools they can carry themselves. No other crew members are allowed to assist. Due to the motor swap, this poses an extra challenge, and the selection of team members is crucial. Willem van Overbeeke, an electrical engineer for the team, said, “The timing of the marathon stage isn’t ideal for us. However, together with two other team members, I’ll take on the challenge of performing the necessary repairs due to the motor swap. With the time limit, this will be a tough task, but we’ll do everything we can to ensure Nuna is ready to start again tomorrow.”