Aug 27, 2015

Panasonic Is Supporting the Tokai University Solar Car Team at "World Solar Challenge 2015"

Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation has signed a sponsorship agreement to support the Tokai University Solar Car Team, who will be taking part in one of the world's largest solar car races, the "Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (WSC) 2015," which will be held for 8 days, from Monday October 18 to Sunday October 25, 2015.

This race, which has been held from 1987 (biannually since 1999), will begin in Darwin located in northern Australia and will end approximately 3,000km south in Adelaide. Forty-six university and corporate solar car teams from 25 countries around the world will compete to cross the finish line with the fastest time.

Panasonic has supported the Tokai University Solar Car Team since 2011 by supplying HIT solar modules boasting top class power output, and high capacity lithium-ion batteries.

Panasonic's HIT solar modules are Panasonic's original hetero-junction solar cells composed of monocrystalline and amorphous silicon. In comparison to ordinary crystalline silicon modules, the output doesn't deteriorate as much even at high temperatures, so they're able to maintain top class power output per unit of area.

WSC 2015 regulations stipulate that the surface area of modules must be no larger than 6m2, and in addition, with Australia's high insolation, the modules become very hot. But HIT solar modules are optimal for solar car races because they are resilient to high temperatures and they have a high power output per unit area. For this race, Panasonic designed and manufactured special modules, but solar cells manufactured for household use will play a central role in power generation.

Panasonic has also supplied its cylindrical 18650-size batteries (diameter of 18mm, height of 65mm) that offer industry's top-level energy density and employs Panasonic's unique nickel electrodes. These batteries make it possible to drive for extended periods of time, even when there is a thick cloud cover or little sunlight by efficiently storing power generated by HIT.

By providing an energy solution that create and store energy with a combination of mass produced HIT solar modules that boast the world's top class conversion rate and high capacity lithium-ion batteries, Panasonic will support the Tokai University team as they take on the Solar Car Race challenge in Australia.

*HIT is a trademark of Panasonic Group.