PowerCore SunCruiser
The PowerCore SunCruiser is a solar-powered road vehicle. It was created at the Bochum University of Applied Sciences to compete at the World Solar Challenge in 2013. The PowerCore SunCruiser is the fifth vehicle built by the University of Bochum and categorized as an EC vehicle class L7e, which includes full road approval. The car was presented to the public on 25 July 2013. It offers space for three persons, can reach a top speed of over 100 km/h, and is driven by two wheel-hub motors in the back wheels. Its maximum power is 8.5 kW. The vehicle's empty weight is around 340 kg, of which the batteries take around 63 kg.
| PowerCore SunCruiser | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Small car |
| Model years | 2013 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Electric motor: 2.5 kW |
The range on a fully charged battery in the absence of sunlight is 700 km when driven at a uniform speed of 65 km/h. Its multi-layer solar cells operate at 29.7% efficiency. The performance of the 3 square meter solar cells on the roof is 833 W.
Batteries
The accumulators make use of 1316 Panasonic NCR 18650B lithium-ion batteries.[1] For the model driven at the World Solar Challenge in 2013, the battery had a total weight of 63 kg and was able to store 15.9 kWh of energy, achieving a nominal voltage of 100.8 V.
Solar cells
In the case of the solar cells, these are Tandem solar cells consisting of Gallium-arsenide. On the roof of 944 cells, which can deliver a voltage of 2.28 V and a current of 0.47 A. The maximum efficiency of a cell is 29.7 %. This degree of efficiency to achieve, in the vehicle, nine different MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracker) is used. The overall electrical performance of the array is at approx. 833W.
Engine
The engine is a development of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences. The permanently excited synchronous machine develops a maximum torque of 110 Nm and a nominal torque of 16 Nm.
Race
World Solar Challenge
The vehicle was specially built for the World Solar Challenge 2013 (WSC 2013), 6 October 2013 that took place in Australia. It started in the so-called "Cruiser-class", which, according to a progenitor model from Bochum - BOcruiser. This class segment emphasised the practicality of the vehicle as a daily commute with the development of solar energy in the focus. For the first time, a solar car from Bochum crossed the goal of 3,000 km without a glitch through the Australian Outback, and was at the end of the world Vice-champion [7]. The University of Bochum reported the WSC 2013 race participation in a journal.
The European Solar Challenge
From 10 until 12 October 2014 took the PowerCore SunCruiser - together with the previous model and "Weltumrundler" SolarWorld GT at the MacCready Solar Challenge (ESC) part. This took place in Zolder, Belgium, on the former Formula 1 race track. The SunCruiser took first place and became European champion in 2014. In the case of the four individual categories, the car won the endurance race in about 9 hours and reached the second-fastest lap. Diary entries, pictures, galleries and Videos by ESC 2014 on the solar car web sites of the University of Bochum.
The Team
During the race, the racing team made up of around 30 students which also involved students who design and built the vehicle. The team was sub-divided to form groups having individuals specializing in different aspects involved in the development of the vehicle and the organizers.
References
- "Panasonic NCR18650B 18650 Akku Test". Retrieved 7 April 2017.