The Sasol Solar Challenge (SSC) is pleased to announce that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has joined the event as the official technical and science partner.

The CSIR will ensure that the four-day scrutineering process at Red Star Raceway runs smoothly, and that all solar cars meet the requirements to compete in the 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge from 9 to 16 September.

“One of the key focuses of the CSIR is to conduct cutting-edge research and technological innovation to improve the quality of life of South Africans. The organisation also develops transformative technologies to accelerate socio-economic prosperity. These values align perfectly with the Sasol Solar Challenge, which strives to be the ultimate test of technologies and innovations developed for real-world challenges - contributing towards the renewable energy and mobility sectors,” said Robert Walker, Owner and Director of the Sasol Solar Challenge. “We are delighted to partner with the organisation and look forward to working with the team of experts at CSIR.”

As part of the partnership, CSIR will provide the Sasol Solar Challenge with technical experts, who will be scrutineering the solar cars from 4 to 7 September. The scrutineering process will include static and dynamic tests.

“As the country and the region’s foremost experts in emerging energy technologies including their optimal design, build and efficiency, it was a natural fit for the CSIR’s experts in energy systems; fuel cells; and battery storage amongst others; to scrutineer this year’s Sasol Solar Challenge participants,” said Tendani Tsedu, CSIR Group Manager: Strategic Communications. “The Sasol Solar Challenge is a clear demonstration of contextualising global trends to local realities, and our expertise and

commitment to innovating and building future capacity to address energy efficiency and cleaner energy, is key to this”.

Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships at Sasol also welcomed CSIR: “We are thrilled to partner with one of South Africa’s leaders in scientific and technology research. Their expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields will contribute immensely to the initial and most crucial phase of the Sasol Solar Challenge, which is the scrutineering process. This will also be an opportunity for knowledge sharing among the solar car teams and the CSIR scrutineer

experts.”

-ENDS-

About Sasol Solar Challenge

The Sasol Solar Challenge, (previously known as South African Solar Challenge) in its fourteenth year, is a biennial competition that strives to be the ultimate test of technology and innovation. Engineering teams from around the world challenge each other to cover as much distance as possible as they travel on public roads from Gauteng to the Western Cape. Local and international teams conceptualise, design and build solar-powered vehicles to drive across South Africa in the eight-day long event while competing against each other, demonstrating and showcasing their design, manufacturing, and strategy skills. The challenge runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns. The Sasol Solar Challenge was inspired by the World Solar Challenge which is now known as the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge held in Australia since 1987.

2018 SSC photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/05qtiz4r6kk1iw0/AAB53qahyRQB4f3FldcCMvVla?dl=0

About Sasol

Sasol is a global chemicals and energy company based in South Africa – operating in 23 countries across the world. Sasol is also the title sponsor of the Sasol Solar Challenge since 2012. The company supports events which inspire creativity and innovation, including sporting and artistic initiatives, as well environmental and educational organisations and events.

About CSIR

The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za

Sasol Solar Challenge social media pages

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SASolarChallenge/

Instagram: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sasolarchallenge/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/Solar_Challenge
 

CSIR social media pages

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSIR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CSIRSouthAfrica/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csirsouthafrica/  LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/company/csir

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CSIRNewMedia

For media queries, please contact:

Yethu Dlamini
Email: media@solarchallenge.org.za
Tel: +27 65 998 0097

CSIR

David Mandaha
Email: dmandaha@csir.co.za 
Tel: +27 72 126 8910