The Synonym for Efficiency: aCentauri

The Synonym for Efficiency: aCentauri

It drives when the sun shines, and then only. Without a large battery on board, everything about the vehicle is geared toward efficiency.

ETH students just can’t seem to get enough of going fast. How else do you explain a third racing team — joining AMZ and ForzaETH — developing yet another race vehicle? The student association aCentauri is building a sleek solar car with photovoltaic panels across its top. Measuring six meters in length and one and a half in width, the car uses a small buffer battery but relies otherwise entirely on solar energy — converted in real time as it drives.

To succeed in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in summer 2025, the car will need to maintain an average speed of over 80 km/h to complete the 3,000-kilometer route across Australia in the six days allowed. “Our goal is to be up front in the race,” says Vincent Neuber, a board member at aCentauri.

"The entire project revolves around efficiency," Neuber explains. “We’re developing knowledge that can benefit many other areas.” To boost efficiency, the ETH students developed their own motor and optimized production processes, achieving high precision in carbon fiber manufacturing, even on large-scale components, to perfect the car’s aerodynamics.