Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro Designed by the Sonnewagen team of the University of Aachen with the support of Covestro, Adelie is a three-wheeled, light and efficient solar car, capable of traveling without recharging and without polluting
©Covestro
Adelie is a solar car model designed by students at RWTH Aachen University. It measures 13.1 feet in length and weighs 375 pounds. It is coated with 43 square feet of solar cells, which have an efficiency of 25%, meaning that it can be powered directly by the sun. The vehicle has a top speed of 84.5 mph and a range of 435 miles. Under ideal light conditions, its battery is charged automatically, without charging stations or electricity outlets.
The concept behind adelie
The Adelie project was started in 2015 by the Sonnewagen team, a group of part-time working students who design solar-powered cars. They want to experiment with lightweight materials and new concepts to make electric mobility more efficient. As Charlotte Teckentrup, the team representative, describes:
“We asked ourselves how far we could travel with a car run only by the sun.”
The result is a car that minimizes energy consumption through aerodynamics and lightweight materials.
Technology and lightweight materials to reduce consumption
One of the most prominent features of Adelie is the use of advanced, ultra-light materials, which are critical to higher energy efficiency. Project sponsorship has been offered by Covestro in the form of funds and advanced technologies that are currently available in the market, including:
- A light-weight polymer battery casing that offers safety and reliability.
- Low-impact, environmentally friendly paints.
- An ultra-light, transparent Makrofol polycarbonate windshield.
- Solar energy generation and storage devices, designed for safety and reliability.
- 3D-printed polyurethane seats, which are customizable and reduce material waste.
Gianmaria Malvestiti, CEO of Covestro, shared his perspective on the project:
“We had the chance to see and touch the future. It feels like being part of a new development era, similar to when the first airplanes were created. What seems futuristic today will be normal for future generations.”
Solar mobility: a real possibility?
Even though Adelie is not yet market ready, it proves that a fully solar-powered car is achievable. During a European tour, the car was showcased in several countries, and it gained fame because of its potential.
Present-day electric vehicles still rely on charging stations, but initiatives like Adelie raise the most important question: how far can solar power actually drive an automobile?
