In the past few months a team of students of the Technical University Twente were the guests of Thales-NL. Looking for room to build a solar-powered car, the team turned to Thales-NL. As high-tech creates a bond, a workshop was improvised where the team could build their vehicle. "Solutra", the name of the solar-powered car will be entered in the World Solar Challenge, a gruelling race over 3000 kilometres to be held in Australia late September 2005. During the construction of the car, many Thales employees, attracted by the innovative activities of the team, dropped by to take a look at the work in progress. They even offered some advice when the team was faced with technological difficulties.

In August Solutra was proudly rolled out of the workshop and shown to the Thales-NL population. Due to heavy clouds the vehicle could not run on its solar cells. A battery was used for the first test drives on the Thales premises.

On Sunday 28 August, Solutra set a world record for solar vehicles in Enschede, A distance of one kilometre had to be covered both ways within one hour. The first run went perfectly with an average speed of 64 km/h. Due to problems with the computers that recorded the run, the second run had to be delayed. When the computers were ready, heavy clouds made an equally fast run impossible, setting the new record on 38 km/h. A bit disappointing as a higher speed was possible, but a record nevertheless.

During the actual race in Australia, the high level of solar energy is expected to propel the extremely aerodynamic vehicle to speeds well over 100 km/h.