Residents of Caledon are in for a spectacular treat when the solar-powered cars participating in this year’s Sasol Solar Challenge will be making their final, mandatory control stop in Caledon on Friday 16 September.
This eight-day event will start in Johannesburg on 9 September and finish in Cape Town on 16 September, passing through five provinces, numerous small towns and settlements along the way. Various towns, of which Caledon is one, have been added to this year’s route.
But what exactly does the Solar Challenge entail? Teams conceptualise, design and build solar-powered vehicles that they will drive on public roads, sharing space with regular traffic, challenging one another to cover as much distance as possible during this biennial competition. All cars are fully functioning, roadworthy cars, powered only by the sun.
Since debuting in South Africa in 2008, when seven teams, including one international team, participated, it has grown considerably with more than 40 teams having participated since its inception.
Robert Walker, owner and director of the Sasol Solar Challenge, says: “It is the biggest solar challenge in Africa. The event is not just about having solar cars compete against each other, but also aims to raise awareness on the use of renewable energy and to attract young people into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and to inspire them and the communities along the route to develop sustainable solutions to address mobility challenges within their neighbourhood.”
The Sasol Solar Challenge has been inspired by the World Solar Challenge, now known as the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, which has been held in Australia since 1987. The competition is not just for talented engineering teams from around the world, but also for university and high school teams.
The four international teams participating in this year’s challenge, are: Brunel Solar Team of the Netherlands (seven times global champions and three times winners of the SSC), Agoria Solar Team of Belgium, current global champions, Tokai. Solar Team of Japan (three times SSC winners) and the Sun Shuttle Solar Team of China.
Caledon’s ambassador for the Sasol Solar Challenge, Lizël Kimber of Beyond Black Mountain, said: “The event will not only help raise awareness in the community about the importance of sustainable tourism, but will also expose learners to real-world applications of STEM. The event will bring exposure to our town which is rich in history and will unite the community of Caledon to take the first step in the activation of green conservation and sustainable tourism.”
Caledon’s 30-minute control stop will be at Freshstop, just off the N2. Spectators are welcome and are encouraged to come and look at the spectacular, futuristic-looking cars and to talk to the teams. The teams are expected to arrive in Caledon on Friday 16 September between 10:00 and 15:00.
