Students of the Brunel Solar Team can be found in one of Paul Dijkstra Composites’ warehouses for the next 3 months to build the Nuna 13 solar car. The team is making the solar car to participate in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the world championship solar racing in Australia.
Today, Alderman Henk de Boer was present to open the production of their new Nuna 13 solar car. “It’s great to see how our local companies are directly involved in these challenging projects,” says Alderman de Boer. “This collaboration shows that Súdwest-Fryslân is a breeding ground for craftsmanship and innovation. Laying the first piece of carbon for this is a symbolic start in which knowledge, collaboration and innovation come together.
Paul Dijkstra was involved in the construction of Nuna 7 years ago, but this is the first time that the car is being built at PDC. “This year we are applying a new process to the construction of the solar car. For this, we will receive an explanation about working with impregnated carbon and lamination,” says Thijmen Scheffel, structural engineer of the Brunel Solar Team. “Paul’s expertise in the use of light materials, such as those used in sailing boats, fits well with what we need to make Nuna 13 as light and efficient as possible.
Five of the eighteen team members will be based in Uitwellingerga during the production process. They will work six days a week, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., on the construction of Nuna 13. At the same time, the other students in Delft will be working on the technical components, such as the battery, engine, solar panel and steering system. “The start of production is a milestone that we as a team have been looking forward to immensely,” says Elias Wawoe, team leader of the Brunel Solar Team. “After months of planning and designing, we are bringing everything together in the construction of Nuna 13. Although the production process takes place in Uitwellingerga, we will remain closely involved in Delft. Teammates travel to Uitwellingerga regularly to help, but also continue to develop certain components. They work together towards the final goal: winning the eighth world title.
