Our Team
We are a non-profit group of volunteers based in Melbourne, Australia and dedicated to promoting sustainable personal mobility and its enabling technologies. We have an eclectic mix of industry professionals, amateur enthusiasts, academics and students.
Originally formed in 1980 to compete in vehicle mileage marathons, our organisation switched to solar car challenges and circuit races in 1987. For more than three decades, team members traveled the world and demonstrated Australian innovation and ingenuity through competition.
Today we focus our efforts on designing, engineering, prototyping and demonstrating a fully road legal, solar-powered car for daily, off-the-grid use.
Our Technology
In 1993 we developed a unique, three-wheeled, wing-shaped vehicle configuration with a triangular rolling chassis. This advance made our second, third and fourth generation solar cars the most aerodynamically and mechanically efficient in the world.
In 1996 we co-developed, together with the CSIRO, University of Technology Sydney and University of Newcastle upon Tyne, the world’s most efficient electric wheel motor. Marand Precision Engineering’s commercialized version now powers many top-ranking solar cars.
In 2013 we co-developed, together with Symtech, a resonant soft-switching maximum power point tracker for solar vehicle use. Symtech now sells a commercialized version to other solar car teams around the world.
Our Greatest Achievements
- 2015 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Schools Program
- 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Adventure Class winner
- 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge Educational Outreach Program
- 2011 Clipsal 500 high speed demonstration laps
- 2011 Top Gear Live Australia high speed demonstration laps
- 2010 Around China tour
- 2010 Michelin Challenge Bibendum Design Award winner
- 2009 ING Australian Grand Prix high speed demonstration laps
- 2008 EastLink freeway opening lead car
- 2008 ING Australian Grand Prix high speed demonstration laps
- 2007 Electric car distance world record of 811 km
- 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge Production Class winner
- 2005 Solar car 24 hour distance world record of 1701 km
- 2004 Solar car 24 hour distance world record of 1255 km
- 2004 Michellin Challenge Bibendum Shanghai showcase vehicle
- 2004 Suzuka Dream Cup average lap speed record of 77.57 km/h
- 2003 Suzuka Dream Cup distance record of 50 laps
- 2003 Suzuka Dream Cup average lap speed record of 77.52 km/h
- 2003 Australian Sunrace outright winner
- 2002 World Solar Rallye lap speed record of 78.50 km/h
- 2002 Suzuka Dream Cup lap speed record of 70.12 km/h
- 2002 Solar car world record of 132.1 km/h over 100 km
- 2002 Solar car world record of 131.5 km/h for one hour
- 2002 Solar car world record of 131.0 km/h for 100 miles
- 2002 Solar car world record of 86.20 km/h on solar
- 2002 Australian Greenhouse Office Sunrace outright winner
- 2002 Around Australia Challenge record 111.20 km/h over 100 km
- 2002 Around Australia Challenge daily distance record of 780 km
- 2002 Around Australia Challenge solar car journey of 13,054 km
- 2002 Longest distance solar car driver, Tony Vriens, at 16,660 km
- 2000 World’s Fair in Hannover showcase vehicle
- 2000 Sydney to Melbourne solar car single trip record of 877 km
- 1999 World Solar Challenge outright winner
- 1998 Citipower Sunrace outright winner
- 1998 Citipower Sunrace record speed of 100.90 km/h over 100 km
- 1994 Australian Trans-Continental Solar Challenge in 8.5 days
- 1990 World Solar Challenge Lead Acid Battery Class winner
- 1985 Shell Mileage Marathon world record of 5,107 mpg
- 1984 Shell Mileage Marathon world record of 3,133 mpg
- 1983 Shell Mileage Marathon world record of 2,948 mpg