Dutch solar race car equipped with Panasonic batteries unveiled

A solar-powered Dutch race car equipped with Panasonic lithium-ion batteries was unveiled Wednesday in Osaka.  The Nuna 5, built by the Nuon Solar Team of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, will join the Dream Cup Solar Car Race Suzuka 2010 set for July 31 and August 1 in Suzuka, central Japan.  The Dutch team introduced Panasonic batteries to enhance performance for the coming race.  Because batteries supply electricity to the motor when the electricity from the solar panel is insufficient due to overcast skies or at night, performance in races depends not only on the capability of solar panels but also on the capacity of batteries and the weight of a battery pack.  Panasonic batteries will be also used by the OSU Team of Osaka Sangyo University in the race.