Mile after mile, the low, flat car eats up the highway, heading for the Rocky Mountains. In the tank, there is only solar energy. The melon yellow racer has already covered nearly 4,000 kilometers on its way through the West of the USA. In its finish by Glasurit®, the paint brand of BASF Coatings, the car already took the title of "the world's most beautiful solar car" last year, as well as fourth place in the world championships. This year, the team of students and professors at Bochum University of Applied Sciences are hoping for a place among the top three. So when, after nearly 64 hours' driving, the solar racer crosses the finishing line just a few minutes ahead of its nearest rival, the next triumph is also on the record: With their "SolarWorld No.1", the team from Bochum come in third - an outstanding achievement in the world's most famous race for solar-powered cars.
From the desert to the mountains
The route of the 4th North American Solar Challenge took the 20 contenders on a nine-day drive, starting in Texas, heading northwards through another six states, and ending in the Canadian city of Calgary. An extraordinary test of endurance for man and machine. The students had had to put in many night and weekend shifts to bring their solar car into line with the strict American competition rules. Electrical engineers and IT specialist, mechatronics engineers, mechanical engineers and economic scientists spent months in making calculations, working on the car and making further improvements to it so it would be able to withstand the relentless test of endurance in the Wild West.
Promoting sustainable mobility
The solar car stands for sustainable mobility. Environmentally friendly technologies have been used by the developers from Bochum University of Applied Sciences for all the components. The water-based, low-solvent paint used for the finish, the Glasurit 90 Line from BASF Coatings, also fulfils the most stringent environmental regulations. There is therefore good reason for BASF Coatings' involvement in the sustainability project: With the worldwide growth in mobility, the challenges of lessening its ecological impact are also growing - and in this regard, coatings play a major role. In SolarWorld No. 1, as in all other concepts for tomorrow's mobility, one thing is certain: To create the best possible overall package, it is essential for everyone involved in the production process to work hand in hand to the very best of their ability.
The coatings concept of BASF Coatings
BASF Coatings has given SolarWorld No. 1 a melon yellow finish. For the finishing job, two-component adhesive primer and an environmentally friendly 90 Line waterborne basecoat were selected. 90 Line stands out for its high mechanical, chemical, and physical durability, and also complies with the European VOC directives on the reduction of solvents. The two-component clearcoat ensures effective protection and high resistance to extreme external impacts.
Glasurit Automotive Refinish
Under the Glasurit brand, BASF markets a comprehensive range of automotive refinishing paint systems, focusing on eco-efficient waterborne basecoats and high-solids paints. By using these systems all legal solvent-reduction requirements can be complied with anywhere in the world, and with regard to appearance and resistance, the products meet the same quality standards as solvent-borne paints. In this area too, the company offers a wide variety of services to support its customers. Glasurit® Automotive Refinish is approved by most of the leading car manufacturers for after-market repairs and is preferred by the world's most prestigious car companies for its color expertise. Web: www.glasurit.com
From the desert to the mountains
The route of the 4th North American Solar Challenge took the 20 contenders on a nine-day drive, starting in Texas, heading northwards through another six states, and ending in the Canadian city of Calgary. An extraordinary test of endurance for man and machine. The students had had to put in many night and weekend shifts to bring their solar car into line with the strict American competition rules. Electrical engineers and IT specialist, mechatronics engineers, mechanical engineers and economic scientists spent months in making calculations, working on the car and making further improvements to it so it would be able to withstand the relentless test of endurance in the Wild West.
Promoting sustainable mobility
The solar car stands for sustainable mobility. Environmentally friendly technologies have been used by the developers from Bochum University of Applied Sciences for all the components. The water-based, low-solvent paint used for the finish, the Glasurit 90 Line from BASF Coatings, also fulfils the most stringent environmental regulations. There is therefore good reason for BASF Coatings' involvement in the sustainability project: With the worldwide growth in mobility, the challenges of lessening its ecological impact are also growing - and in this regard, coatings play a major role. In SolarWorld No. 1, as in all other concepts for tomorrow's mobility, one thing is certain: To create the best possible overall package, it is essential for everyone involved in the production process to work hand in hand to the very best of their ability.
The coatings concept of BASF Coatings
BASF Coatings has given SolarWorld No. 1 a melon yellow finish. For the finishing job, two-component adhesive primer and an environmentally friendly 90 Line waterborne basecoat were selected. 90 Line stands out for its high mechanical, chemical, and physical durability, and also complies with the European VOC directives on the reduction of solvents. The two-component clearcoat ensures effective protection and high resistance to extreme external impacts.
Glasurit Automotive Refinish
Under the Glasurit brand, BASF markets a comprehensive range of automotive refinishing paint systems, focusing on eco-efficient waterborne basecoats and high-solids paints. By using these systems all legal solvent-reduction requirements can be complied with anywhere in the world, and with regard to appearance and resistance, the products meet the same quality standards as solvent-borne paints. In this area too, the company offers a wide variety of services to support its customers. Glasurit® Automotive Refinish is approved by most of the leading car manufacturers for after-market repairs and is preferred by the world's most prestigious car companies for its color expertise. Web: www.glasurit.com
