Photo: Aston Martin
Despite the current trend of hybridization, Aston Martin still hasn’t fitted its superb prodction sports cars with electric motors and battery packs. But regarding its racing career, this will change soon as the automaker will adopt some solar panels to aid with track performance.
“Solar panels to aid an Aston Martin racecar? Are you kidding me?” Well, you’re right. Replacing the car’s roof with solar panels won’t bring enough boost to aid the car, but it can handle other auxiliary systems responsible with sucking the power.
According to the new FIA WEC regulations, all racecars must be fitted with air conditioning systems that keep the cockpit at a temperature bellow 32 degrees Celsius. And you all know that AC units come with a compressor that steals power from the engine.
However, Aston Martin recently announced a partnership with the Hanergy Global Solar Power & Applications Group that will fit solar panels on the roof of the Vantage GTE racing in the World Endurance Championship. They will fully power the AC unit, thus lessening the engine’s job - fuel savings also come as a bonus.
"We aren't looking at solar power technology for our race cars because it is a green option," explains Aston Martin Racing's Team Principal John Gaw. "We are looking at how we can use the power of the sun to improve the comfort of our race cars for our drivers and therefore increase our performance on track. However, we are looking at how we can improve our green credentials as a business now that we are moving to new premises."
The plan sounds interesting enough and we expect to see it on road-going vehicles too, especially on hybrid cars, or even those fitted with a Start/Stop system which can’t do its job properly if the AC is on.
According to the new FIA WEC regulations, all racecars must be fitted with air conditioning systems that keep the cockpit at a temperature bellow 32 degrees Celsius. And you all know that AC units come with a compressor that steals power from the engine.
However, Aston Martin recently announced a partnership with the Hanergy Global Solar Power & Applications Group that will fit solar panels on the roof of the Vantage GTE racing in the World Endurance Championship. They will fully power the AC unit, thus lessening the engine’s job - fuel savings also come as a bonus.
"We aren't looking at solar power technology for our race cars because it is a green option," explains Aston Martin Racing's Team Principal John Gaw. "We are looking at how we can use the power of the sun to improve the comfort of our race cars for our drivers and therefore increase our performance on track. However, we are looking at how we can improve our green credentials as a business now that we are moving to new premises."
The plan sounds interesting enough and we expect to see it on road-going vehicles too, especially on hybrid cars, or even those fitted with a Start/Stop system which can’t do its job properly if the AC is on.
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