Aurora Report #4 from Bibendum. 31 May 2010

BIBENDUM GRACED BY THE PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL

Ok the rally from the day before was not the big event. The opening ceremony was!

Before an audience of 4000 made up of the Bibendum delegates, the registered entries, the 480 international media and the round table participants an impressive list of dignitaries graced the opening ceremony for this 10th Bibendum event. The Chairman of Michelin, Mr Rollier opened proceedings in welcoming all to the event. The Mayor of Rio as well as others made speeches before the President of Brazil took the floor.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a stocky man with a beard. But once he began his unassisted speech it was easy to see why he enjoys overwhelming popularity in Brazil. He spoke of the work Brazil was doing to clean up emissions from trucks buses and taxis, how improvements to the poorer Brazilians was being achieved, how Brazilians had taken pride in their country and the challenges ahead for Brazil in hosting the World Cup soccer and the Olympics. The President received a standing ovation.

The attendees then descended on the display of vehicles. The Aurora 101 solar car received many guests; the car filled many camera screens and the occasional visitor demanded to be allowed to sit in the pilot’s seat.

 

Ride and Drive sessions were available to all. For many of the delegates the chance to drive an electric car was too good to miss. The pavilion was filled with silent cars, which also toured the outer road of the pavilion itself. Most everyone came back smiling. The beautiful red electric sports car from

Audi made several appearances. Getting a seat in this one was a big privilege. The solar car also made laps, unfortunately without a passenger just to also bask in the admiration.

A big hit was the availability of 4 different types of electric personal transport. Starting with Segway, there was also a stand up 4 wheels Segway like scooter and a spider like three-wheeler that could lean into corners. These machines had a special course marked out within the pavilion and even though many riders reached frantic speeds no one was run down,

With all this exercise it was time for lunch. This is not a ‘cooks tour’ other than to describe the size of the catering job. A hot sit down meal with desert course for over 3000 people!! A record. Michelin had received registration confirmation from over 7000 people to attend Bibendum in Rio another record for this event.

We had car checks to carry out in the afternoon. The recovery of the two battery packs took the longest time and in one pack, one cell required removal. Mechanically all of the suspension items needed re tightening after the rough roads of the Rally. Otherwise the solar car was ready to race in Suzuka Japan at the end of July, its next destination after Rio.

Team member Peter Pudney attended many of the discussion sessions to add to his expertise on the future of electric cars, particularly in Australia. Not only electric cars, but biofuels, road safety and transport preparations for the Olympics.

Then there was the parade of the Rally participants within the huge pavilion. This was helped by cocktails.

There had been four different rally events dependent on the vehicle type. This included a rally for heavy trucks and buses as well as city cars and passenger cars. The one for passenger cars was the longest and hardest and it was the one in which both solar cars were entered. Within each rally there were special performance tests for acceleration, manoeuvrability, noise, CO2 emissioe inside presentationns and fuel economy. There may have been more. So there were many medallions to give out.

http://archive.aurorasolarcar.com/AuroraPics/R4/DSC01671.jpg

All participants were paraded individually and if appropriate awarded performance medals. The solar cars were in a special category along with other vehicles that did not quite fit the classifications of more conventional vehicles. Following monster trucks and buses it was time for the special category. Aurora 101 scooped the pool with 5 performance awards. The organisers had been surprised at how we had performed [so were we]. Especially pleased was Gerard Fresson, former Michelin executive who was the original master of the Bibendum event on its first occasion.

So, off to dinner and the presentation of the Design Awards. An international jury of judges had been assembled to determine the Design Awards. Editors of major publications from Germany, France, Japan China and Brazil were included in the judging panel.

Worthy entrants were selected and cheered including the red Audi sports car. The surprise? A special Design Award for the Aurora 101 solar car for its achievements in efficiency, aerodynamics, light weight and zero fuel consumption.

 

That made us really happy.