Axalta supported two student teams who competed in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2017, which took place Oct. 8-15 in Australia, by providing coatings, technical assistance and expertise.

The Bochum SolarCar Team and The Punch Powertrain Solar Team successfully completed a 3,021 kilometers race from Darwin to Adelaide. 

“Our support of these young, talented engineers reflects Axalta’s commitment to engaging with the communities in which we work, to our technological innovations, and to our passion for motorsports. But moreover, it reflects our strategic vision of a more sustainable future dominated by energy-efficient, zero-emission transportation systems,” said Matthias Schönberg, VP of Axalta and president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The thyssenkrupp blue.cruiser, the World Solar Challenge entry of The SolarCar Team from Bochum University of Applied Sciences in Germany, crossed the finish line first of only three teams to complete the race in the given timeframe and was ranked second overall out of the eleven teams in the Cruiser Class.

The results were based on solar kilometers travelled, passenger kilometers, speed, energy efficiency, design and practicality – where the team received the highest score for its desirability.

Axalta said its technical specialists used “extensive” motorsports experience when painting the solar car to “achieve an outstanding appearance while keeping the weight on the carbon fiber body to a minimum.”

The Punch Two, designed by the Punch Powertrain Solar Team made up of engineering students from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, finished third in a field of 14 in the Challenger Class, an improvement on its results from the 2015 race.

The Team also won the innovation award with their new four-wheel steering system that enabled them to “sail on the road”, using the energy of the wind to gain some extra speed. The Punch Powertrain Solar Team was supported by Cromax, one of Axalta’s premium refinish brands. Cromax technical specialists not only painted the car, but Axalta said the specialists helped the team achieve its energy-saving goals by limiting energy use. 

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a competition of experimental solar cars that serves to encourage development and implementation of energy-efficient, zero-emission transportation technologies around the globe. The cars must cross the continent – travelling for more than 3,000 km – in one of the world’s most challenging landscapes. The rules stipulate that 90 percent of the car’s energy should come from the sun or be recovered from the kinetic energy of the vehicle. 





Photo courtesy Axalta