Team αCentauri – Bright Minds for a Bright Future

Mr. Green reporting from the #PowiGaNVaN

Saturday, October 21 was the final round of dynamic scrutineering at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin, the last test to determine pole position for the World Solar Challenge race start.  During their hot laps practice session on Friday, Team αCentauri's No. 85 car never got up to full speed.  There was nothing technically or mechanically wrong with the car, the team just had a few communications hiccups. 

The Swiss students from ETH Zurich have been focused on safety and reliability first and foremost – double- and triple-checking every aspect of the No. 85 Car, “Aletsch.”  During the actual “hot laps” dynamic scrutineering test, the team had a solid performance. Driver André Engel was able to get up to 68.3 kph, getting a hot laps time of 2:31.3649 (2 minutes and 31.3649 seconds) placing 18th out of the challenger class cars, securing the 22nd pole position for the race start.

It's not only αCentauri’s first time in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, but they built Aletsch in half the time that most of the other teams take to build their solar cars. Most teams start pulling together their teams, securing sponsors, and designing and building their car two years before the race. They show up with large teams and are well-funded with sponsors from previous challenges who recommit funds.

Team αCentauri accomplished all of that in one year with a fraction of the budget and a team that expanded and shrunk as students transfer, graduate, change majors and priorities, or start school. The team now stands at around 25 members and was as big as 45 teammates at one point. They share different backgrounds, but all the team members are technical, talented and passionate about finding ways that innovation can help address the challenges of climate change. The energy, intelligence, attitude and passion for decarbonization shared by all of these bright young students gives me so much hope for our future.

Four main drivers and two alternates will pilot car No. 85 through the Outback:

Aaron Griesser – Aaron is the main electrical engineer with αCentauri Solar Racing.  He has his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and information Technology from ETH Zurich.  Aaron has been one of the main points of contact working with the PowerPros team in Manila to incorporate PowiGaN into car No. 85. 

Noa Moulin – Noa drove the Aletsch during the figure eight portion of dynamic scrutineering.  Although it started slow (steering issues that were quickly addressed), she ended up earning the team the third fastest time in figure eights.  She completed the course in 15.6 seconds.  Required completion time was 18 seconds. 

Noa’s interest in mechanical dynamics and concern about global warming are the main reasons she studies mechanics. This interest was confirmed while acquiring her Bachelor's degree at EPFL. There, she discovered the different facets of mechanics and the margins of progress they presented on a sustainable level. Noa’s passionate about understanding how systems work and finding ways they can be further optimized. She’s now at ETH Zurich pursuing her Master's degree in mechanical engineering with a specification in energy, flows and processes and a focus on renewable and sustainable technologies. Noa is a mechanical engineer with αCentauri Solar Racing.

André Engel – Andre is the suspension engineer with αCentauri Solar Racing and has his Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from ETH Zurich.  André was the driver testing out the car during the team’s hot laps practice session on Friday.

Jonas Rudin – Jonas has a Bachelor’s of science in Environmental Sciences from ETH Zurich and a Master’s of science in environmental sciences from University of Zurich.  Jonas is a full-time junior portfolio development manager with Digitec Galaxus AG and freelances for αCentauri Solar Racing as a team driver and as the team’s safety and driver trainer.

Leonardo “Leo” Rössler – Leo is a mechanical engineer focused on photovoltaics and battery for αCentauri Solar Racing.  He has a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from ETH Zurich and is pursuing his Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW.  He is an alternate driver for the team.

Lea Schüpke – Lea runs operations for αCentauri Solar Racing. She is studying for her Bachelor’s of science in physics at ETH Zurich and is an alternate team driver.

A few other team members who have welcomed the Mr. Green “team” to their garage in Darwin include:

Kanna Yamaguchi – Kanna is a photovoltaics and battery engineer for αCentauri Solar Racing pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Gian-Leo Willi – As he tells it, mechanical engineering sciences student Gian-Leo is responsible for the  whole No. 85 car.  He oversees pretty much everything mechanical and structural and was the person who worked most closely on the aerodynamics. 

Alexandr Ebnother – Alex is team manager and suspension engineer for αCentauri. Alex handles the team schedule, sponsorships, coordinating media interviews, logistics and a thousand other necessary details to keep the team moving forward. Alex has a Bachelor’s of engineering degree from ETH Zurich.

Power Integrations is excited to sponsor and cheer on Team αCentauri to a successful trek through the Outback.  Mr. Green is heading to Australia to follow them in the #PowiGaNVan and will report along the way. We hope you’ll follow us via this blog, our YouTube channel and social channels.

This Mr. Green blog is part of a special series of blogs, vlogs, livestreams and social posts from the #PowiGaNVan as we follow Team αCentauri through the Australian Outback for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.