Agoria Solar Team is representing Belgium in major international events, thanks to a team of students from KU Leuven. A small contribution from Etilux can be found on board this technological vehicle…

A large, unremarkable garage door, practically opposite the marina in Leuven. However, upon opening the door, you enter a technological Ali Baba’s cave. This is the headquarters of the Agoria Solar Team, the Belgian team that excels in international races year after year.

On the left, there are two vehicles covered with a clear tarpaulin. Opposite us, the 2018 model, just back from Chile. For the first time, the Belgian team won the year’s world championship race (the Carrera Solar Atacama), which took place in October in the Atacama desert.

A university/corporate partnership

Right before us, the ultra-flat car – yes, it does have four wheels, a steering wheel and an engine! – has been stripped of its upper chassis, which houses the solar panels. Beside it, David Louis, the head of energy and electrical engineering for the Agoria Solar Team, is proud. He is one of around twenty engineers from KU Leuven who are extending their studies by a year. This post-graduate course after their engineering studies is the result of a collaboration between several universities. In addition to a portion reserved for coursework, the students from KU Leuven have the privilege of participating in the fabulous adventure of the Solar Team.

Each year, these young engineers build a new car under the supervision of a coach from the University and in partnership with various companies. ‘The final objective,’ explains David Louis, ‘is to take part in the World Solar Challenge, which has been taking place every two years in Australia for the past three decades. During the other year, it takes place on different continents.‘ This is why the vehicle before us has come back from South America (Chile).

A comprehensive experience

 The students are primarily responsible for three aspects: mechanics, structure and aerodynamics. But the other aspects (finance, logistics, electricity, energy, marketing, sponsorship, etc.), which resemble a small business, are also taken care of by different team members.

A new car is produced for each event, due to technological advances or changes to regulations. ‘The cars were bigger in the early years, in order to capture more solar energy,’ recalls David Louis. ‘Now the surface area is smaller. Our roof-mounted solar panels are very efficient; they are identical to the spatial models.‘ 

The electric motor is specifically designed for the car, with an energy efficiency of up to 96 percent in relation to the energy supplied! Naturally, in a challenge like this, every gram counts. It is no coincidence that the chassis is made of carbon and that numerous simulations are carried out, including in tunnels, to test the aerodynamics of the vehicles, among other things.

 ‘The total weight is 143 kilos without the driver. Regulations set this at 80 kilos; if it is lighter, ballast is added to make up the difference.‘ 

The Etilux touch

As you can see, every detail is important. Therefore, all the parts are specially studied and researched to make the car as light as possible. Agoria Solar Team has thus found a precious resource for the attachment of various elements in Etilux, such as approximately fifteen electrical modules, the radio microphone, the Wi-Fi module or the insulating cover for the wheels. ‘We suggested the 3M Dual Lock in 12.7 or 25.4 millimetre-wide strips‘, explains Samuel Scheunis, the manager of the Industrial Tapes & Adhesives department at Etilux. ‘This is a kind of industrial Velcro that is very strong and very light.‘

‘It is so effective that you have to use very little of it to avoid damaging the carbon and to be able to remove it easily,’ says David Louis with a flick of his wrist. In any case, the Agoria Solar Team is delighted with this product, which is very useful. This 3M Dual Lock allows the team to replace important modules very quickly, without wasting time and with an ultra-solid hold. Nothing can fall off during the race!

Etilux also provided an industrial cleaning product (3M Citrus cleaner) to remove traces of glue from the adhesive tapes, in order to connect the solar panels and the bodywork. For cable marking, a Brady BMP21 mobile labeller ensures the correct connection of each plug, in case a replacement is required during the race!

Etilux is contributing in some small way to this fabulous technological adventure, which is leading Belgium to the top of this field.

The solutions proposed by Etilux