New solar car taken for test drive

On 24-31 August this year, JU Solar Team will participate in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia. They have now test driven their new solar car for the first time - on the world's longest indoor test track.

"It was really cool," says Gustav Carlén, one of the test drivers.

This version of the JU Solar Team consists of 24 students and teachers at Jönköping University (JU), who are designing and building a solar car to cross the Australian continent in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. The solar car is far from finished, but currently consists of a first generation chassis, suspension, steering gear and brake.

"Wanted to see that everything works and interacts"

On the evening of 20 January it was time for the first test drive, which took place on the world's longest indoor test track at AstaZero in Borås.

"We wanted to make sure that everything we have done so far works and interacts in order to further develop the car," says Team Manager Matilda Svensson Duric.

Gustav Carlén thought it was a powerful experience to drive the car that JU Solar Team has constructed together.

"Got answers to most things"

"Most of the tests were quite basic, but I still think we got answers to most of the things we need to know about the car," he says.

The next test drive is in early February, also at AstaZero in Borås.

"It's not long before we head off to Australia, and then everything has to be perfect, so we will just keep going at the same furious pace as we have done so far," says Gustav Carlén.

JU Solar Team does not want to show any pictures of the solar car due to the risk of their competitors copying or taking inspiration from their construction solutions. Instead, they plan to make an official unveiling of the solar car this spring.

Read more about the JU Solar Team here External link, opens in new window.