TNT delivers solar car to Australia ahead of World Solar Challenge

TNT recently delivered a solar car called Stella Lux from the Netherlands to Australia. The four-seat prototype will compete at the World Solar Challenge (18-25 October), a 3,000km race between Darwin and Adelaide.

TNT shipped the car from Eindhoven to Liege, Belgium, then flew it to Singapore and finally to Melbourne. The vehicle’s lithium batteries travelled by boat. As they were the first of their kind with no ready-made documentation, TNT requested approval from the authorities to ensure customs clearance and smooth import in Australia. The car and batteries arrived within about a week of each other in perfect condition.

Stella Lux was built by a team of students from the Netherlands' Eindhoven University of Technology. The wedge-shaped electric car charges itself with solar cells placed on its roof. It can travel 621 miles (1,000km) on a single charge at a speed of 77.7mph (125km/h). The car features a navigation system that provides routes guidance based on weather predictions.

Peter Gutsche, Director of Operations, TNT Australia: “We are proud to support Solar Team Eindhoven, a talented team of student engineers, in their pursuit to take out the World Solar Challenge here in Australia.”

“The team’s project and the race are both closely aligned with our own philosophy – a focus on efficiency, sustainability and cutting-edge technology. The safe transportation of the solar car was made possible by our skilled network of people and state-of-the-art facilities.”

TNT has extensive experience transporting delicate cargo. In June this year, TNT delivered the skull of a 66 million-year-old T. rex from Nevada, United States to Germany and back. This summer, TNT delivered a prototype R1 race car from Frankfurt (Germany) to Miami (US) for Gryphon Racing.

About TNT
TNT is one of the world’s largest express delivery companies. On a daily basis, TNT delivers close to one million consignments, ranging from documents and parcels to palletised freight. The company operates road and air transportation networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. TNT reported €6.7 billion in revenue in 2014. For more information, please visit TNT’s website at: http://www.tnt.com/corporate

Media Contact:
Sylvia Lam
PR/Media & Communications Executive
TNT Australia
T: +61 (2) 8304 8304
M: +61 (0) 0408 630 233
E: sylvia_lam@tnt.com.au