ITU ZES Solar Car Team on Türkiye Tour

ITU ZES Solar Car Team on Turkey Tour The ITU ZES Solar Car Team, which finished in the top three at a solar car competition in Belgium, embarked on a Turkey tour with "Ariba ZES XE" ahead of the Australia World Solar Challenge.

The ITU ZES Solar Car Team, Osmangazi University Mavera Technology Team, and Eskişehir Technical University Hidroana Team met in Eskişehir.

In line with the Smart Life 2030 strategy, ZES, the next-generation technology brand of Zorlu Enerji, which focuses on renewable energy sources and future technologies for sustainable living, brought together the ITU ZES Solar Car Team it sponsors, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Mavera Technology Team, and Eskişehir Technical University Hidroana Team in Eskişehir. The ITU ZES Solar Car Team, which achieved significant success by completing the 24-hour race in third place at the iLumen European Solar Challenge (iESC 2022) held in Belgium last year, set out on a Turkey tour ahead of the "Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2023 - BWSC 2023" to be held in Australia between 22-29 October this year. Meeting with the other two university teams supported by ZES, Eskişehir Osmangazi University Mavera Technology Team and Eskişehir Technical University Hidroana Team, in Eskişehir, the ITU ZES Solar Car Team boosted morale and motivation ahead of the prestigious Bridgestone World Solar Challenge competition in the solar-powered vehicle category, while the three teams also shared their experiences with one another. According to information provided, Zorlu Enerji continues to develop business models focused on sustainability to leave a better world for future generations through its activities shaped by next-generation smart technologies based entirely on renewable and clean sources, in line with its "Smart Life 2030" sustainability approach. As a global organization, the company integrates its sustainability approach across its entire value chain and continues to support science-based progress with an approach that prioritizes young people who are the architects of the future as they gain experience through university-industry collaboration.

ZES provides mentoring support to young people

ZES, which aims to contribute to the sustainability-focused innovative work of the ITU ZES Solar Car Team (ITU ZES GAE), Eskişehir Osmangazi University Mavera Technology Team, and Eskişehir Technical University Hidroana Team, stands by young people by providing mentoring on their experience-gaining journey. At an event where a common synergy was created among the teams, Ural Halaçoğlu, Research and Development Manager at Zorlu Enerji, who conducted discussions focused on innovation and R&D by meeting with young people, emphasized strengthening university-industry collaboration and stated: "As a company that provides all its electricity generation from renewable energy sources and is committed to managing and directing the transformation of the energy it produces, we have transformed sustainability into a way of doing business and focused entirely on next-generation smart energy systems. We carefully address many issues including combating climate crisis, reducing carbon emissions, using resources sustainably, energy efficiency and energy supply security, clean technologies, water use and water protection, human and employee rights, equal opportunity, and corporate governance. We particularly consider it extremely important to support the productive and innovative aspects of young talent and to facilitate young people in putting forward learning-based scientific projects. We take great satisfaction in supporting such value-creating projects with our ZES brand and standing beside our young people, thereby contributing to the support of sustainable social change and transformation," he said. According to information provided, one of the important objectives of the ZES Solar Car Team is to participate in the "Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2023" to be held in Australia between 22-29 October, the most prestigious organization in the solar-powered vehicle category, and to represent Turkey and ITU in the best way, achieving successful results. The ITU ZES GAE, which returned from the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2009 with the "The Best Newcomer" award, aims to crown its European success with the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2023. It was noted that ARIBA ZES XE is the most energy-efficient and technically most successful vehicle among the 10 solar cars manufactured by the ITU ZES Solar Car Team to date. Designed down to its mechanical system and lamination under pandemic conditions, ARIBA ZES XE stands out with its lightweight, efficient and robust design and features that well reflect solar car culture. The team has been the recipient of more than 24 awards across 3 continents with 10 solar-powered electric vehicles it has manufactured since 2004. During the meeting, the Mavera Technology Team, which shared its experiences, stated that thanks to Zorlu Enerji's gold sponsorship with the ZES brand in 2022 and 2023, they took important steps toward developing their projects and themselves, and the Mavera Technology Team progressed toward becoming a more recognized club nationwide in the branding process. The team stated that it is working with all its might to achieve success with the strength gained from always feeling Zorlu Enerji by their side. The "HIDROANA" hydrogen-powered vehicle team, which has continued its activities for 17 years, participates regularly each year in the Shell-Eco Marathon Europe/Turkey and TUBITAK Efficiency Challenge (within the scope of TEKNOFEST) competitions. The team supported by ZES finished fourth in Europe this year at the Shell Eco-Marathon Europe 2023 competition held at Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro, France. Competing with their vehicle named "MIDAS" at the Shell Eco-Marathon Europe 2023, the team covered 440 km of road with 1 m³ of fuel, competing against rivals from European countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. Besides the contribution provided by the ZES brand, the team stated that its moral support honored them, and the team aims to undertake projects that will increase the prevalence and recognition of sustainable and environmentally friendly hydrogen energy. Source