The new regulations of the World Solar Challenge 2021
After a long wait, the new rules for the World Solar Challenge 2021 were published in mid-June. Unlike in the two previous challenges, many things have changed fundamentally this time. We would like to present the biggest changes in the regulations to you now.
But why are there new regulations at all? The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has set itself the goal of offering incentives in the research and development of new, sustainable mobility concepts. Student teams put their visions and concepts on the road in a self-designed solar car and compete against each other. Therefore, this competition needs a set of rules that on the one hand enables the realization of these visions, but on the other hand also ensures a fair competition.
The most important changes for the Challenger class are:
The solar car must have 3 or more wheels.
As was the case until 2011, 3-wheeled solar cars are allowed again this time. This allows for efficiency gains by having one less wheel and new aerodynamic shapes.
Certain solar cell types are no longer allowed
Specifically, GaAs solar cells, i.e. those we used in the Covestro Sonnenwagen (2019), among others, have been banned. We expect many teams to go back to silicon solar cells.All-wheel steering is no longer allowed
Although many teams had many good experiences with this in 2017 and 2019, all-wheel steering is no longer allowed in 2021.
A standard manakin must fit in every solar car
In this edition of the World Solar Challenge, for the first time, there is a standardized mannequin that must fit in the driver's seat. This is the second rule that will significantly change the exterior of solar cars.
The rule changes show that the World Solar Challenge wants to break down the established vehicle concepts and challenge teams to think efficiency in a new way. So for us, it's now up to us to meet these challenges to design the best solar car in the world.
https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/teams/2021-regulations