Aston Martin Racing and Chinese solar power company Hanergy are teaming up to improve the efficiency of race cars by harvesting the power of the sun.
Aston Martin engineers are exploring the use of thin film solar PV technology for air-conditioning units for their top-of-the-line racing vehicles, the V12 Vantage GT3 and V8 Vantage GT4, and have turned to Hanergy for a solution.
“We are fully committed and passionate in adapting our world leading thin film solar technologies for cars, so that, for example, a thin layer of cells can be applied to the roof or rear windscreen to power the air-conditioning or other ancillary functions without affecting the performance of the car or using the fuel or battery source,” says Jason Chow, Executive President of Hanergy Global Solar Power & Applications Group.
Aston Martin Racing’s recent victory at the world-famous Le Mans endurance challenge in France, in the GT Am class – also known as the “gentleman’s class”, where high performance vehicles compete over 24 gruelling hours – highlighted the importance of keeping drivers cool under extreme temperatures.
Under Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship regulations, GT-class race cars must be fitted with an air conditioning system that keeps the temperature of the cockpit below 32 degrees centigrade or 12 degrees above ambient temperature. According to the FIA, new rules placing more emphasis on renewable technologies will come into force this year “making the WEC and the Le Mans the most relevant form of motorsport in the world today.”
Aston Martin says installing solar panels on their vehicles was less about going green than about fuel efficiency.
“It’s a bit of a balancing game at the moment,” explains Dan Sayers, Chief Engineer at Aston Martin Racing. “The air conditioning system uses engine power, however, keeping the drivers cool and more comfortable is essential. If we can find a solution that keeps the driver cool without the negative effects on performance then it could have a really positive impact on GT racing.”
The company are also in talks with Hanergy about installing thin-film solar technology on new buildings in Branbury when a move is made next year.
