The solar racing car was developed and built by the Canadian Polytechnique Montréal University. Competitors in the American Solar Challenge include leading universities such as the MIT, the University of California Berkeley and the Polytechnic University of St. Petersburg. Esteban 9 has already won this year’s Formula Sun Grand Prix circuit race. It took place from 10th to 12th July 2018 at Motorsport Park Hastings and also served to qualify for the following endurance competition.
The long-distance competition places particularly high demands on technology: “The American Solar Challenge is the Formula 1 of solar racing car construction. The vehicles need maximum performance with minimum weight to be competitive. Esteban 9 without a driver only weighs 198 kg”, says Robert Händel, CEO of OPES Solutions. “The solar modules supplied by us are custom-made with hand-picked solar cells and a specific weight less than 9.3 grams per watt. As part of the aerodynamic vehicle envelope, they are flexible and very stable despite their low weight,” adds Händel.
Esteban 9 is equipped with a total of 10 pcs solar modules of different sizes with outputs between 50 and 100 Wp. Their monocrystalline cells have efficiencies of 23.7% and were laminated on a substrate of flexible Tedlar Backsheet.
