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 The Bochum University of Applied Sciences (Germany) has recently presented a new solar car, the "BOcruiser". A team of around 30 engineering students has displayed a new concept: This latest solar car drives on four wheels rather than three, as was the case for the predecessor "Solar World No. 1". A project that started in the mid 90’s at the London South Bank University (LSBU), partner of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences, it turned into a co-operative venture with joint research and teaching thrown in.
For the Bocruiser, the concept of a four-wheeled vehicles was adopted over the three-wheeled Solar World No 1. With a body that is streamlined, the workshops and labs at the Bochum University of Applied Sciences engineered an in-wheel motor that will power both the "BOcruiser" and other vehicles in the pipeline. This involved solving a whole range of problems, because the new vehicle is propelled by two motors, and even if it employs new components and the proven prize-winning technology that includes an innovative battery management system. According to the scientists, for weight and efficiency-related reasons, it was not possible to use a mechanical differential transmission. Instead, electronics and software are to determine the variability of the wheels' peripheral speed in curves. As with the predecessor, six square meters of solar cells provide electric power. In this area too, the technology used is becoming more viable for everyday use. Silicon has replaced the costly gallium arsenide in the solar generator.
In order to reduce weight, only the bare minimum of paint (supplied by BASF AG) was to be applied, a demand not unlike those posed for Formula 1 racers, for which every gram counts. For this project, the Lennartz spray painting team chose Glasurit 22 Line HS 2K Topcoat. "No more than one and one-half layers of paint, but nevertheless fulfill the basic functions of the paint finish, like protection, durability and design," Lennartz said. In comparison, a new car is generally finished with four coats of paint (e-coat, primer, basecoat, clearcoat). Lennartz applied the primer to only some parts of the vehicle's exterior before topcoating it with 22 Line, which has a high degree of hiding power, allowing him to dispense with a clearcoat.
The Bocruiser will have its first real-life test in October at the World Solar Challenge, cruising 3000 kilometres through the Australian outback. According to the project manager-professor, Friedbert Pautzke, the motivation for building this car was not to be first to cross the finish line at the race but to be a part of a series of solar vehicles that is consistently taking the next innovative step toward everyday use. Interestingly, the World Solar Challenge is not the end of the project for Bochum's pioneers of electric mobility. The venture will concentrate on “Sustainable Individual Mobility Car”, which is the name of a project for an everyday electric car. The planning phase of this three-seater has been completed and the car will be built in 2010.
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