Racing towards the future! Solar powered car attempts to break world record by driving 550 miles in 12 hours
- The Nuna Phoenix set off from a test track in the Netherlands this morning
- It must complete 294 laps and one metre to break current record of the Nuna8S
- Every two years the Vattenfall Solar Team desgins and builds a brand new Nuna
This is the moment a solar powered car began its attempt to become the fastest in the world.
The Nuna Phoenix, of the Vattenfall Solar Team, set off this morning at the National Road Traffic Agency test track in Lelystad, the Netherlands.
The car needs to complete 548 miles in 12 hours to break the current record, which was set by the Nuna8S in 2017.
Each of the car’s four drivers is expected to be in the vehicle for around three hours, needing to travel at speeds of around 46mph to break the record.
The goal is for the car to drive more than 882 kilometers in 12 hours on solar energy alone
The Vattenfall Solar Team with students from TU Delft, attempting to break the world record with solar car Nuna Phoenix on the test track of the National Road Traffic Agency
It is anticipated the Nuna Phoenix will cross the finish line at 7pm local time, news outlet Sleutelstad reported.
A similar attempt to capture the title in Australia last year went up in smoke after the NunaX burned out during the race.
This year’s race was due to take place in America but was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The team says its goal is to inspire the world in the field of high-end technology and promote sustainability through renewable energy
Every two years the team designs and builds a brand new Nuna, with one goal in mind: becoming world champions in solar racing
Team leader Niek Hogenboom told Omroepflevoland that he wanted to prove his team was one of the best in the world by ‘driving on nothing but the power of the sun’.
Every two years the team – made ups tudents from the Delft University of Technology design and build a brand new Nuna.
They have won the World Solar Challenge in Australia seven times, most recently in 2017.