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Fortis Saxonia wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2008.
In the last four weeks our vehicle Sax 2 had been travelling around the big, wide world. It was presented at Shell's booth of this year's Challenge Bibendum 2007 in Shanghai. While the big concerns were giving proof of fuel consumption, CO2-emissions, noise development and everyday life criteria like handling, stopping distance and acceleration, our ecocar was showing the Shell eco-marathon and its solutions being realized by students today.
On November 1st federal secretary of the environment Sigmar Gabriel has been in Chemnitz. Accepting our invitation he seized the opportunity and visited us at the University. Our presentation of Fortis Saxonia was followed by an open discussion with the secretary about die perspectives of the projekts, the further development of the technologies used in Sax 2 as well as the future path of study of our members.
Furthermore Mr Gabriel offered us to accompany him being visiting with the member of the board of directors of Volkswagen Martin Winterkorn in Wolfsburg. Already now we are very anxious to the opportunity of meeting Mr Winterkorn.
On 10.26.2007 we had the opportunity to test our this year's vehicle in the wind tunnel of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany. According to size and weight Sax 2 was one of the smalest vehicles ever checked in this tunnel, therefore it challenged the measure-team a lot.
The determined test readings approve the outstanding values being calculated before in the simulation. With a face surface of 0.297m2 the cd-value determined by Ansys CFX without considering the wheels is 0.075. In the wind tunnel we achieved a cd-value of 0.111 at a speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
On October 23th and 24th the project Fortis Saxonia presented itself and its current vehicle Sax 2 on the international ETG Congress 2007 in Karlruhe, Germany. During the Hybrid-Drivetrain-Summit we were able to familiarize the professional audience with the collegiate project of Fortis Saxonia and gave them a detailed view on the technology of Sax 2. Our attendance was initiated by the sientific conference leader Prof. Dr.-Ing. W. Hofmann and supported by the VDE. In addition to the lectures and interresting talks we got an invitation to the EMA 2008 in Aschaffenburg, Germany.
On October 9th HRH Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visted the Chemnitz University of Technology (CUT) in order to strengthen the existing relations between Thai Universities and the CUT. To emphasize the continuing collaboration our university is going to network especially close with the King Mongkut's Institut North Bangkok (KMITNB). Therefore both universities signed a cooperation treaty during the sojourn of the Princess. Within her attendance HRH Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Fortis Saxonia as well and has been given an explanation of Sax 2.
Allready on september 28th Fortis Saxonia had received a delegation of Keimyung University from Daegu / South Korea. The rector of the university Professor Lee and the dean of the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering have particularly informed themselves about the fuel-cell power train from Sax 2 the organisation of the team. Futhermore we could answer various and inquisitive questins according the Shell Eco-marathon and the goal of this competition.
On September 25th and 26th Fortis Saxonia showcased itself at the F-Cell,
the fuel cell trade fair in Stuttgart. Both vehicles Sax 1 and Sax 2 have been
on exhibition in order to display the developments throughout the last two
years.
It has been especially pleasant to meet many of our sponsors and partners again
at the trade fair in Stuttgart.
We were able to discuss our plans for the next Shell Eco-marathon with our contacts
from Ansys to 3M, GKSS, UST, VW and even ZBT and to gather suggestions from them.
From now till sunday, 16th of september you will find our ecocar Sax 2 at the International Motor Show (IAA) Cars in Frankfurt/Main. We are on part of the booth of Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH in hall 4.0 Stand B11.
On June 5th and 6th Fortis Saxonia presented their fuel cell car Sax 2 at the week of environment (Woche der Umwelt) in Berlin. Altogether 12,000 visitors were received by the Federal President of Germany Horst Köhler and by the german environment foundation DBU in the park of the castle Bellevue. Together with the team ProTron of Trier university of applied science we sensitized the guests to environmental issues and made the competition of designing the most energy-saving car of the world become more known.
On May 30th the Future Truck of the Chemnitz University of Technology was showcased for the first time. The truck is cram-full with experiments and exhibits of technical subjects of the university. During visits at Saxon schools and fairs it shall enthuse the youth in studying at the CUT. Our hydrogen fuel cell car is on board as well as a driving simulator for a jaunt on the track of Nogaro. The first journey of the truck started on following saturday. The destination was the vitreous government district (Gläsernes Regierungsviertel) of Dresden. Our car became the highlight of the show.
information: press release
The symposium of energy took place in Jena on May 11-12th 2007 while a good portion of the team was trying to achieve the best possible result in Nogaro. Two of us presented the project of Fortis Saxonia in a workshop about renewable energy sources. The outcome made a terrific impact.
more information: www.energiesymposium-jena.de
Sax 2 achieved place 5 out of 262 teams at the Shell Eco-Marathon in France. Two of the eight German teams are in the top ten. After the third run we already hit the target of 2500 kilometres with one litre of petrol and we even passed it with 52 kilometres. "At the beginning we made several safety runs using the well proven vehicle components of 2006. We experimented in the last valuation run with the technology because of the good third run." reported team manager Paul Büschel. "Though with the fourth run we only reached a distance of 2416 kilometres." The vice chancellor of the Chemnitz University of Technology, Prof. Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Matthes, is glad about the achievement: "I congratulate our team and I am happy that they obtained their ambitious goals."
Eight of the 262 participants of the marathon were from Germany. Fortis Saxonia cooperated especially with the team eco emotion of the University of Applied Sciences Merseburg and Burg Giebichenstein. Only one team from Germany was able to outperform Sax 2: The vehicle called "Schluckspecht" from Offenburg reached 2716 kilometres and scored third on the overall standings. The two French teams from Nantes (with 2797km) and form St. Joseph La Joliverie (with 3039km) are the first on the final list.
Also after the marathon Fortis Saxion will continue the cooperations with the German teams. Being invited by Horst Köhler, the Chemnitzer and the Protron-Team of the University of Applied Sciences Trier will present themselves at the "Woche der Umwelt" (Week of Environment) in the park of the Schloss Bellevue in June. The team of Trier achieved finally 12th place in France - as well as the team of Chemnitz did the year before.
On the Evening we did a second try. Nicole Taubert gave her best, the track was free, we reached 300 kilometers more than we did in the first run. The only problem was: we were 2 minutes to slow, so that run was invalid .
Today we went on track for the first valuation run . We reached 2059 kilometers.
Todays Evening, Shell Eco-marathon has been officially opened. It has started with a Race of the Urban Concept Vehicles. We used the mid morning to do another work on our vehicle. On afternoon we went on track again.
Sax 2 was on the track for the first time todays afternoon. For our drivers it was a chance to accustom to track and vehicle. And our engineers got a lot of useful information.
In the early morning Sax 2 was moved from the camp to the pit lane. In Box 205 Fortis Saxonia set up the garage. There Sax 2 will be prepared for the race.
Sax 2 passed the Technical Inspection without problems. Brakes, field of vision, roll pylon and safety belts were insepcted. Now first test runs on the Nogaro race track can be performed.
Sax 2 went on its journey to Nogaro for the 2007 Shell Eco-marathon on last sunday. Fortis Saxonia and the team of the University of Applied Sciences Merseburg hit the road on Monday. All arrived savely.
The team has already arranged the camp. Now Sax 2 is completely build up and will be set up for the race. Next steps are technical inspection, test runs … and race.
We will publish latest on news www.fortis-saxonia.de
On May 3rd the team Fortis Saxonia presented their new fuel cell car Sax 2 to the public. In addition to invited guests from economy, politics and science many students and interested citizens watched the revelation and the greetings by the rector Prof. Dr. Matthes and the press relations officer at Shell Germany Mrs. Gamalski. We showcased our team and new technological developments in short lectures. With interested presentations of our sponsors ended this great day.
On May 2nd the press took a look at our new car.
You read some articles in our press review.
On April 24th 2007 the this year's Day of Hydrogen took place. The team of Fortis Saxonia participated with their car of the previous year Sax 1 and presented the project in an interesting lecture.
Sax 2, the recently developed energy efficient fuel cell car of the Team Fortis Saxonia, is going to be presented at the "Woche der Umwelt" (Week of Environment) in the park of the Schloss Bellevue on June 5th and 6th 2007. We would be really glad to welcome you on our shared booth. Us and the team of Protron together will show our energy efficient cars. Visitors need to register in order to get to the site of the Schloss Bellevue.
The registration form can be found on the following page:: http://www.woche-der-umwelt.de/besucher
Further information according to our participation at the "Woche der Umwelt" can be found here.
Yesterday we finished the integration of our new windows. With best thanks to Forma, for their fast and good work.
We invite everyone to visit our Symposium on 2007/05/03.
There we will present our new car and a series of interesting talks will be given.
Entrance will be at: 14:45 in room 2/N112.
On 04/02/2007 our new chassis saw the light of day. It had a weight of 13.2Kg and a size of 3.1 meters.
On 3rd and 4th of March Chemnitzer Linux-Tage will take place in Chemnitz. Fortis Saxonia presents the vehicle Sax 1 and the positive mould of Sax 2.
On March 28th all German teams participating in the Shell Eco-marathon met for an exchange of experience and information. For the first time Shell invited to a such get-together. Fortis Saxonia leveraged this opportunity to presenting our project and for transfering our collected experiences to the younger teams. Fortis Saxonia was the only team arriving Hamburg with there car Sax 1. All members were avid and look forward to a next time.
On 01/24/2007 work on negative mould began. The task is realised at Cotesa. Two of a total of three parts are already finished. The last part ist expected to be done during the next week. That means that the building on the chassis of Sax 2 will begin soon.
On 18/01/2007 the positive mould was completed and brought to Cotesa for the next task – the creation of the negative mould.
Federal President Horst Köhler invited to his New Year's reception on 01/08/2007. At New Year's reception he welcomes representatives of public life and valuable citizens. Upon the recommendation of the Sächsische Staatskanzlei Fortis Saxonia was invited. Fortis Saxonia will be represented by Thomas Mäder.
