The first circumnavigation of the globe by a completely self-sufficient solar car finishes near Adelaide, Australia. The SolarWorld Grand Turismo has crossed a total of 16 countries and various climate zones in 414 days. After starting out in Australia, the car then passed through New Zealand, the USA, Italy, Monaco, France, Luxembourg, the car’s birthplace of Bochum in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Moldavia, Ukraine and Russia, and then returned to Australia. The team from Bochum University of Applied Sciences has covered over 29,000 kilometers, passing through deserts, mountain passes and endless forests.
When they arrive in Hahndorf near Adelaide, the students will have set a world record for the longest journey ever undertaken by a solar vehicle. In doing so, they will make it into the Guinness Book of Records.
“The students have shown that solar mobility is feasible. It is already possible today to be mobile using the sun’s energy alone. I congratulate the young engineers very much on their achievement. Just a few years ago, nobody would have thought that such a project could be realized,” said SolarWorld CEO Dr.-Ing. E. h. Frank Asbeck.
The students from Bochum started out on this first solar trip around the world on October 26, 2011, after participating in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. This competition takes place every two years and is regarded as the most difficult race in the world for solar vehicles.
Since right back in 2006, SolarWorld AG has been supporting students from Bochum University of Applied Sciences in the development of innovative vehicle concepts. The SolarWorld GT is the fifth solar vehicle that the students have developed so far, and it is also the most practical for everyday use. This aerodynamic two-seater car actually requires not more electricity than a hairdryer. The steering wheel can be positioned on the left or right, as desired. The SolarWorld Grand Turismo combines lightweight construction with good energy performance, and it is a fine example of German-made innovation.