NIHON SUPERIOR will participate in the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, one of the world's largest solar car races, as a sponsor of Team Arrow. The contestants will try to cross the Australian continent from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south, covering approx. 3,000 km over the 8-day period from October 6 to 13.

 

As well as having to cover a long distance, the car body, in-vehicle devices, parts, and materials will all be exposed to extreme temperature differences, vibration, and other harsh desert conditions. Therefore, the tough race is known as one where the durability and reliability of the vehicle and its components are tested to the limit. The race has a long history, having being held every 2 years for more than 20 years since 1987, and many teams from across the world come to participate. We will be participating as a sponsor for the 4th consecutive time, following our participation in 2007, 2009, and 2011.

 

This time, 44 teams from 25 countries are scheduled to take part. Team Arrow, the team we are sponsoring, is a team from Queensland, Australia, made up of skilled engineers, technical experts, designers, students, and other members. Arrow 1, the car that will be used in the competition (see photo), is a highly energy-efficient, cutting-edge vehicle with a simple but sophisticated exterior design. The driver's seat is positioned in the center. 

 

Our lead-free solder SN100C (Sn-Cu-Ni+Ge) is used in Arrow 1's controller, battery management system, and all other parts except the solar panels, giving the car a very ecology-oriented design (Note 1).

 

SN100C has been used for the controller since the 2007 race and been received well by the manufacturer for its stability and reliability in all three previous races. Therefore, SN100C has been chosen again for the coming race (Note 2).

 

The event is divided into three classes by vehicle type: Challenger Class, Cruiser Class, and Adventure Class. Arrow 1 will be participating in the Challenger Class (Note 3). This class is for single-passenger, four-wheel solar cars with an aerodynamic design to maximize energy efficiency. As it is the main race, the winner will become the event champion.

 

Solar power generation technology, which utilizes natural energy, and environmentally friendly lead-free solder share a common purpose. The event is a great opportunity to promote our lead-free solder products, as it is a venue where not only solar batteries but also the various systems, parts, and bonding materials, such as solder, that support the solar batteries receive attention. We will continue to capitalize on a variety of opportunities to raise awareness and understanding of the quality of our products.