The Sasol Solar Challenge takes place every two years with engineering enthusiasts, university and school teams from across South Africa and the world competing. This year, nine teams (seven local and two international) will be entering the race that starts in Johannesburg on 9 September 2022.

‘Solar-powered Cheetah’ competing for the first time

It will be the University of the Free State’s debut in the challenge.

According to team manager, Hendrik van Heerden, the goal for this year’s participation is to finish the race and to learn about how to manage the team, as well as the car, and to also see what they can learn from other teams.

Their car is named ‘Lengua’ and the team entry on the challenge website aptly reads: “A Solar-powered Cheetah has escaped its Free State habitat and has been spotted on the Sasol Solar Challenge (SSC) line-up.  Known as Lengua in Sesotho, the large cat is determined and hungry to take on the thousands of kilometres between Johannesburg and Cape Town.”

Lengau will be supported by ten team members, comprising lecturers and students with a combination of skills from physics, engineering, electronics, manufacturing, management, media marketing, and diplomacy.

They will present a 250kg solar car (driver included) that can reach speeds of 60 kilometres per hour.

Van Heerden further explains that they couldn’t participate in the Solar Challenge in 2020 due to the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event was officially launched again in April 2021.

Aiming to fly high with Ntsu

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) have chosen the name ‘Ntsu’, meaning ‘Eagle’, for their vehicle.

This will be CUT’s second appearance in the challenge, the last being 2018. 

Their first solar car was named Pere ea Letsatsi – a Sesotho name that means ‘horse from the sun’.

CUT’s previous experience has given them an added advantage as they can improve on their 2018 strategy.

They revealed their new solar vehicle at the university’s launch ceremony on 19 August 2022. The car has a new chassis, aiming for reliability on uneven road surfaces. The new design incorporates 3D-printing of custom components, electronics and many other features.

The team of 14 members comprises of staff, alumni and current students ranging from 24 to 42 years of age. The skills range includes computer, electronic, electrical and mechanical engineering.

Team Naledi shining bright

Central SA’s ‘stalwart’ in the Sasol Solar Challenge, the North West University Solar Team, has been competing in the challenge since 2012.

According to their team entry on the challenge website, in 2016, they set a record with the furthest distance in a day racking up 611.9 km and 3, 524 km for the entire eight-day challenge.

Naledi means “Star” in Setswana, and was chosen to compliment the sun, which fuels the solar car.

The 15-member team will be competing with Naledi 2.0, a vehicle built using materials from Naledi I, which competed in the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and Phoenix, which competed in the 2018 Sasol Solar Challenge.

They have three drivers and a range of senior students and staff of the engineering faculty. Skills include chemical, industrial, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

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According to Robert Walker, the owner and director of the Sasol Solar Challenge, the 2022 route will include five provinces and 18 towns.

Competitors will depart in Johannesburg on 9 September and are expected the cross the finish line in Cape Town on 16 September 2022.

Their stops in Central South Africa include the Free State towns of Sasolburg, Kroonstad, Winburg, Bloemfontein, Trompsburg, and the Gariep Dam.

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The winning team will be decided based on the most kilometres clocked over the entire span of the race.

Teams compete in three separate participation classes, each with different design criteria. For example, optimal efficiency, endurance, practicality and everyday applicability.

The local and international teams have to design and build solar-powered vehicles robust enough to drive across South Africa in eight days.  Judging criteria includes design, manufacturing and strategy skills.

Meanwhile, according to Walker, there are two strong teams coming from overseas: the Brunel Solar Team from Delft University in the Netherlands, as well as Agoria Solar Team, from Belgium.

However, other international teams could not travel to South Africa this year due to existing travel restrictions in certain countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Current champs back for ‘four-in-a-row’

The Brunel Solar Team is the seven-time global champion and is also the former champion of the 2018, 2016 and 2014 Sasol Solar Challenges.

According to Demi van Kampen, the driver of the team, the competition looks quite strong this year with their biggest rivals the Agoria Solar Team.

Brunel Solar Team did not build a new vehicle and will be using their rebuilt Nuna11S solar vehicle.

Van Kampen further explained that they had a two-year programme with their vehicle where the team had new innovations and improved the car.

Those who want to support their favourite teams can meet them at the respective “pit stops” in towns along the route. All events will be posted on the Sasol Solar channel Facebook page with the details, the times and venues.

OFM News/Bambatha Giko