Tim van Baast from Helvoirt took the solar car to his old school, the 2College Durendael in Oisterwijk, on Friday. At TU Delft, Tim is one of the designers of a solar-powered car. In October he will participate in the Solar Challenge in Australia with that car. But on Friday, the techies of the future were allowed to ask Tim anything.
Five pre-university education classes are waiting in the auditorium to listen to Tim’s story. He shows the map of Australia on a large screen. A line of 3000 kilometers runs straight through the continent: from Darwin in the north all the way to Adelaide in the south. Tim will cover that distance with his TU Delft team.
After the presentation, the students can take a look at the solar car. But with a distance, because the car is vulnerable. Sharp objects can damage the solar panels. “How much does it actually cost?” Sandro wants to know. “I can’t say that,” replies a colleague of Tim. But Sandro will find out anyway: you buy a nice house for it.
“Tim is a great example of how great your world can become.”
Tim’s former teacher Ine Ultee also came to his presentation. She proudly looks at the achievements of her former student: “I always say to students: when you finish high school, you can choose what you want. And then the world can be at your feet. Many students are searching after corona, they are less motivated. I think Tim is a very nice example of how great the world can become for you.”
Luca thinks it’s cool that there is a solar car in the auditorium of his school: “And that someone from our school works with it. I like to see how this all works.” Gijs says: “It’s great that it’s possible. It may not work here in the Netherlands, but it will in Australia.”
Tim enjoys the enthusiasm of the students: “I want to show what you can do in the field of sustainability.” He points to the solar panel of less than three square meters on the solar car: “You can drive 3000 kilometers on it. So the car industry can take steps.”
“We’re going to win that race, of course.”
In June, Tim and his team will present the new solar car that he will take to Australia. Expectations for the match are high. The TU Delft team has already become world champions seven times. Tim: “We really do have some nice new innovations. We are going to win that race of course!”
