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CHARLES MOLELE
GENERATION Z is more committed than ever to social good, with businesses’ social impact initiatives influencing their career choices, among others.
This was evident at this year’s 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge, which included the participation of hundreds of eager, high-flying school learners and engineering students from various universities across South Africa trying to show their prowess.
Among the solar car teams taking part in this year’s Sasol Solar Challenge were the high school team Genuine JV from Pretoria and top engineering students from the Free State Central University of Technology, North West University’s Solar Car Team, the Unisa Solar Team, UFS Solar Team, TUT Solar Team and the Brunel Solar Team, a group of talented engineering students from Belgium and the Netherlands.
According to organizers, solar car teams typically partner with leading technology companies to test and develop cutting-edge innovations during the solar challenge.
The students set out on the Sasol Solar Challenge in Brakpan on Friday last week, covering a route with control stops between Johannesburg and Cape Town over the next eight days.
For the uninitiated, there are three major stops on each stage of the challenge: the start line, the control stop and the finish line.
On Monday evening the eight solar car teams – with journalists, engineers, volunteers and event organizers in tow, arrived in Graaff-Reinet, a small town beautifully situated on the foothills of the Sneeuberge, or the Snow Mountain.
The participating students would then proceed to Jeffreys Bay, Riversdale, Caledon and finally arrive in Cape Town on Friday September 16 2022, to showcase the solar-powered car that they designed from scratch and built to travel without using a single drop of fuel.
Before setting out on the challenge, the UNISA Department of Mechanical Engineering hosted an official solar car preview ceremony at the Unisa the Science Campus, to showcase the car to the college and entire university.
“We wish the solar car team well as they start their tour to Cape Town today. We are praying for them and cheering them on to finish strong,” said Professor Simi Dube, Acting Executive Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.
The UFS, which has entered its solar-powered vehicle, Lengau (meaning Cheetah in Sesotho), said its main objective was to establish capacity in the students and staff through acquired practical knowledge on the management, design, construction, and actual racing of solar-powered vehicles.
“Our long-term aim is to continually improve on the design, technology, science, and project implementation to participate in events and challenges around ‘green’ energy and relevant technologies. An additional aim is the popularisation of electric vehicle (EV) technologies through outreach programmes,” said Dr Hendrik van Heerden from the UFS Department of Physics and project manager of Team UFS.
The biggest surprise at the challenge is the participation of Grade 9 to 11 learners from the John Vorster Hoër Tegniese Skool in Pretoria.
Their solar-powered car is known as the Voltwagen, supported by the Genuine JV Team.
“The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge is our first competitive solar event. Taking part in this event is a huge opportunity, an achievement and a learning curve for us,” said team manager Dr Marlize Kantor.
“We have been preparing for this moment and it’s finally here. It is going to be an unforgettable experience not only for the team but the entire school … Additional to testing the car, we also practised our respective roles which includes safety, telemetry, communication and strategic planning.”
The Genuine JV team consists of 32 members, including learners from grades 9 to 11, teachers, parents and volunteers, with a combination of skills from electronics, digital systems, mechanics, civil technology, robotics, media relations and logistics.
Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) is also taking part in the fierece competition, using their solar car called the SunChaser 4, an energy efficient, high technology solar powered vehicle ,built by the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment.
The vehicle was designed, built and is driven by a team of staff members and students from TUT.
During the control stops on the journey to Cape Town, the Sasol Solar Challenge made afew stops and invited school learners from various schools in Sasolburg, Winburg and Middelburg in an attempt to give them an opportunity to experience STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the real-world and learn more about the solar-powered car challenge.
On Saturday, the community of Winburg, Free State, gathered at the main street of the town to welcome and support the solar car teams on their second control-stop of the event.
“The reaction that we received from the community of Winburg was overwhelming. The most notable thing is that they were at the control-stop before us. They knew that we were coming, and they were prepared to host us with open hearts and also show support to the teams,” said Robert Walker, owner and director of the Sasol Solar Challenge.
“We hope to continue to impact more communities along the route.”
Eight schools from the area participated in the programme which was conducted at the control-stop.
The learners had an opportunity to learn more about solar technology, robotics and e-mobility through solutions created for real-world challenges.
Brunhilde Rossouw, Councillor of Winburg and town ambassador said: “Our children don’t often get these opportunities to experience STEM in real-life. I was a school teacher for 35 years and there is nothing more exciting than introducing programmes to learners that can entice them to become interested in possible future careers. We are grateful to the Sasol Solar Challenge for bringing this event to our community and we hope to see the event here again in 2024.”
Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships at Sasol said: “One of the key objectives of the Sasol Solar Challenge is to stimulate a sense of wonder and curiosity about STEM among learners – to create awareness, excitement and unique opportunities for them with a specific focus on STEM subjects. Today we have witness this in Winburg, with the excitement that we have received from the community.”
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