Imagine eighteen students with one common goal: building the most efficient solar vehicle of the world. The students of Solar Team Twente develop a new solar car from scratch within only one year. This car is designed to drive more than 3.000 kilometers by only using solar energy. Sounds crazy? It is, but student team Solar Team Twente makes the impossible possible. By competing in several solar races around the world, the team challenges the limits of existing technology every year. This year, the team participates in a unique and extremely challenging Solar Challenge in Morocco, driving 2.500 kilometres through the Atlas Mountains and Sahara.
Solar Team Twente entails passion for innovation, passion for efficient mobility, and passion to inspire others. With over 15 years of experience and a strong network of companies and former team members, they prepare for the races like others would for the Olympics. A new team starts every 2 years in September, participates in the iLumen European Solar Challenge in Belgium in the same month and then works hard for one year to build the most efficient solar car of the world. The car is able to drive more than 3.000 kilometers only powered by solar energy, which means efficiency is key. Several aspects of the car are affecting the efficiency of the car, so they must be designed well. Examples are the aerodynamic shape of the car, the performance of the battery and of course the efficiency of the solar panel. Within this interdisciplinary team, the several sub-teams must work closely to realize a reliable and efficient solar car.
The solar team is located in Enschede, the Netherlands. It is part of the University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and ROC van Twente. Solar Team Twente is one of the biggest student teams of the Netherlands. It unites more than 150 companies in and outside the country to build the most efficient solar car of the world together with the team. Team members pause their studies for one and a half years to show what one can achieve in a short period of time. Their goal is to inspire others to contribute to a more sustainable society themselves. Together, we make a difference!
Management Team

Colin van Laar
Team Manager

Reinoud Mulder
Technical Manager

Maurice Jansen
Secretary, Finance and Logistics

Mark van Eijk
Marketing & Comm. Manager
Marketing & Communications Team

Mark van Eijk
Marketing & Comm. Manager

Remco Hoen
Accountmanager

Camiel Lemmens
Marketing & Events
Technical Team

Caterina Solombrino
Aerodynamics Engineer

Paul Heineman
Mechanical Engineer

Stijn van der Sluijs
Mechanical Engineer

Tobias van Bemmel
Electrical Engineer

Job Hofste
Aerodynamics Engineer

Reinoud Mulder
Technical Manager

Thijs Alberts
Electrical Engineer

Judith Tel
Electrical Engineer & Strategist

Rick Groen
Electrical Engineer

Thomas Jansink
Structural Engineer

Oebele Lijzenga
Data Acquisition

Stijn Louws
Structural Engineer

Tim Traas
Aerodynamics Engineer
How fast can the solar car go?
Why do the solar cars look different?
For 2021, the main changes are the following:
- 3 wheels are allowed again (instead of only 4 wheels)
- The solar array may not be bigger than 4.00 square metres
- The car may not be longer than 5.00 metres, which is roughly the length of a normal car
- The car may not be wider than 2.20 metres
- A mannequin with a height of 2.00 metres has to fit in the car
Do you have to be a student to participate?
How long do the members participate in the project?
Do you have to be doing a technical study program to participate?
- Technical team
- Marketing & Communications team
- Management team
For the last two sub-teams, you do not need a technical study background. More important is enthusiasm and passion for this project. Ideally, you have experience with project management, but that can also be learned on the job.
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