Partnership at eye level

The new solar race car “Æthon” is a technical masterpiece – built by students from Aachen ‏(Germany), powered by the sun, and designed to cover 3,000 kilometers through the Australian outback. But behind the elegant lightweight design lies more than just engineering excellence: the “Sonnenwagen” is a visible symbol of how sustainable mobility can emerge through collaborative partnerships.

With Covestro and Henkel, two companies are supporting the project that have been working together for years along shared value chains – particularly in the field of adhesive technologies. We spoke with Guido Naberfeld, Head of Sales and Market Development Mobility at Covestro and project sponsor of “Sonnenwagen”, and Sjoerd Dijkstra, Director Sustainability Strategy & Excellence at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, about their contributions to the solar car – and what becomes possible when forces are joined.

What motivated you to get involved in the “Sonnenwagen” project?

Guido: The “Sonnenwagen” team impresses us time and again – with pioneering spirit, technical skill, and a clear vision for the mobility of tomorrow. For us, the project is much more than sponsorship: It’s a platform for collaborative development along the value chain. We contribute materials and expertise – and in return, we gain new perspectives and valuable insights. At the same time, our solutions must prove themselves under extreme conditions. That makes the “Sonnenwagen” a true benchmark for sustainable innovation.

Sjoerd: We’ve previously supported teams in the World Solar Challenge through our colleagues in Australia. So we know the pioneering spirit and forward-thinking engineering with which the “Sonnenwagen” team designs its solar race car – and that there’s a strong overlap between the team’s ideas and Henkel’s. Through our partnership, we want to support young talent and, of course, highlight the performance and sustainability of our solutions in demanding applications across key industrial sectors. We see the project as an ideal innovation platform for forward-looking adhesive technologies.

Where exactly are your technologies used in the “Sonnenwagen”?

Guido: Our materials are used throughout the vehicle – this time, over ten products, more than ever before. For example, the driver’s seat is made from chemically recycled polyurethane foam – a material originally sourced from old car seats. We also use recycled material (mass-balanced) in the battery housing: elastomers that reliably dampen vibrations. The cockpit canopy and headlight covers are made from highly impact-resistant polycarbonate – lightweight, durable, and UV-resistant. There’s also thermally conductive polycarbonate in the battery cell holders, a sustainable coating that cures without energy-intensive processes, and several other applications.

Sjoerd: For the current generation of the race car, we primarily supplied our proven Loctite and Teroson solutions. These products are used in the automotive industry and in various other industrial applications. They include structural adhesives, specialty adhesives for components like the motor, threadlockers, adhesive tapes, and hybrid adhesives for different mechanical parts. In the future, we also see great potential for using more advanced adhesive technologies. A key focus will be on products made from bio-based or recycled raw materials – an area where we’ve been working closely with Covestro, one of our most important global suppliers, for years. Our involvement closes the loop – driving sustainability and performance forward together along the value chain.