The University of Johannesburg announced in a press release on Tuesday, 7 October 2014, that its team for the 2014 Sasol Solar Challenge received the technology and innovation award this past Saturday (4 October 2014).
This is the second time the UJ Solar team was recognised for its innovation, having won the innovation award in the 2012 Sasol Solar Challenge.
The vehicle, Ilanga II (Zulu word for sun), used Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) solar panels imported from Germany, which UJ said let it build the smallest and lightest (185kg) vehicle to participate in the challenge.
According to UJ, this was the first time GaAs panels had been used in a solar race challenge.
Lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, Kevlar, and Airex foam core were used for the body and suspension of the vehicle.
The battery pack, consisting of over 400 individual Lithium-Ion cells, weighed less than 20% of the total weight of the car.
Read more on MyJHB.
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