Vattenfall has set a new solar racing world endurance record in the Netherlands.
Over 12 hours, the Nuna Phoenix solar car drove more than 924km fuelled entirely by solar power.
Participation in an international solar race is not possible this year due to the coronavirus.
Instead Vattenfall Solar Team took its self-built Nuna Phoenix solar car to Netherlands department of road transport test track in Lelystad in an attempt to set a new world endurance record.
The event was the first time had been Nuna seen in action this year.
To break the world endurance record held by the Nuna 8s since 2017, the Nuna Phoenix had to have travelled at least 882km 12 hours, more than 300 rounds of the test track.
In the end, the solar car ran 328 rounds.
Unusually high temperatures in the Netherlands impacted the track surface.
“The heat made the asphalt a lot softer. In the curves the tar strips were like sticky liquorice,” said driver Mees van Vliet, who drove the car over the finish line.
Team member Jan Groot, who was responsible for strategy as well as monitoring the weather and cloud forecasts, decided shortly before the planned starting time to delay the start by half an hour to increase the chance of success.
Four drivers took turns during the day, each for a stint of three hours. While the drivers switched places, the other team members sprayed water on the solar panels to cool them down.
Van Vliet added: “The cabin is not comfortable, as temperatures can rise to about 50 degrees Celsius.”
Team captain Niek Hogenboom said: “We’ve done it, this is really great. A new world endurance record, when just a few weeks ago we didn’t know if the car would ever race. We really pulled it off, and I’m proud of our team!”