Produced by the Near East University, the solar powered vehicle RA 25 will race at Sasol Solar Challenge 2014 to be held in South Africa
Date Added: 05 September 2014, 20:27
Last Updated Date:06 December 2016, 11:38
  • TRNC’s first car
  • Rivals are world giants
  • The Sun God RA 25 will race against 70 giants of the world
  • RA 25 sets off on September 8

Designed and produced by AR-GE teams of the Near East University, fully solar powered vehicle RA 25 will race against solar powered vehicles at the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa and represent our country.

According to the info released by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations Office of NEU (Near East University Nicosia, Cyprus), the Near East University has received the approval of the Council of Ministers to register and identify RA 25 with the chassis numberTRNC535/14NEU0001. The high-tech product RA 25, which is completely solar powered vehicle with a direct current 1800 Watt power engine, can reach 150 km/h speed. Designed as a three-wheeled vehicle, RA 25 is equipped with specially produced Michelin Radial 95/80R16 solar tires, 550 solar panels with dimensions 12.5 X 12.5 cm, 500 Panasonic rechargeable 2250 mAh 3.7V batteries, 1 X 1800 Watt linear electric motor, 2 X maximum power point tracking (MPPT), 2 X cell management units and 1 X battery management unit. The steering and suspension structure of the vehicle, which is equipped with disc brake system that used in modern vehicles, has been designed the same as in Formula 1 cars. RA 25, which is a technological wonder future generation vehicle, is equipped with a control panel including only forth and reverse gear. RA 25 is 5m long, 1.8m wide and its highest point is 1 m from the ground.

RA 25 will represent our country at the Sasol Solar Challenge 2014, which will be held in South Africa in collaboration with Motorsport South Africa and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). The Solar Challenge will start on 27 September in Johannesburg and finish on October 4 in Cape Town. The main route is approximately 2000 km through the country. At Sasol Solar Challenge 2014, RA 25 will race against world’s leading universities and world giants including Mercedes and Audi and wave the TRNC’s flag proudly in South Africa.

Touching upon the technological and innovative developments achieved by the Near East University, the Chairman of NEU Board of Trustees, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel stated that the solar powered vehicle RA 25, which was designed and produced by AR-GE teams of the Near East University, is a high-tech product and an indicator of the ultimate point reached by the Near East University in terms of innovative technology. Indicating that RA 25 would wave our flag proudly at Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrfan S. Günsel stated that RA 25 would race against not only the vehicles produced by the leading universities of the world but also the vehicles produced by giant car manufacturers. Günsel voiced his belief that RA 25 would return the country with a very good result.

RA 25 will set off on Monday, September 8th to represent our country at Sasol Solar Challenge 2014 to be held in South Africa.