In Rovinj, the first Croatian solar car “Crostar” was presented, designed and built at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Osijek through the collaboration of students from Osijek and Zagreb.
The single-seater vehicle resembles a similar vehicle being developed by students at Stanford University, with which our version will most likely compete in one of the world solar-powered electric car races, where over five days, an average speed of 85 kilometers must cover up to 3,000 kilometers.
HRT reports that our version is covered with six square meters of solar cells, which have an efficiency rate of nearly 24 percent and charge lithium-ion batteries weighing 20 kilograms.
– For five kilowatt-hours of battery capacity, it can travel 200-300 kilometers, says mechanical engineering development engineer Albert Saličunaj.
“Crostars” was made with the help of numerous sponsors at a cost of 750,000 kuna. – There is no market for such a vehicle. The point is how to make the most efficient vehicle using the latest technology, how to reduce weight, how to reduce energy consumption to make the vehicle as efficient as possible, said Saličunaj.
