Chassis
The chassis is a lightweight space frame cut and welded entirely by team members. Extensive design and analysis were conducted to meet competition safety standards while minimizing mass.
The vehicle uses a tadpole three-wheel configuration, enabling a lighter structure while maintaining superior stability compared to other three-wheel layouts. Suspension, steering, and braking systems were fabricated and integrated in-house, resulting in a fully rolling frame.
Aeroshell
The aeroshell is designed and manufactured by the aerodynamics team and optimized for smooth airflow and low drag. Computational fluid dynamics modeling informed the shell geometry, achieving a drag coefficient of approximately 0.16 with a drag force under 10 pounds at speed.
Manufacturing plans for the aeroshell are actively underway, with mold preparation and composite fabrication planned as the next major milestone.
Solar Array
The vehicle features a custom solar array designed to integrate seamlessly with the aeroshell geometry. Panel layouts were configured and simulated to maximize energy capture within competition surface-area constraints.
High-efficiency Maxeon Gen III solar cells are paired with a programmable MPPT solar charge controller to regulate power flow. Additional protections prevent localized cell failures from affecting the entire array and protect the system from electrical surges.
Battery & Power Electronics
The high-voltage battery system uses a 4p20s architecture with lithium iron phosphate prismatic cells, balancing performance, safety, and reliability. Custom copper busbars and a purpose-built battery enclosure were designed and fabricated by the team, including a dedicated high-voltage “penthouse” for fuses and contactors.
The electrical team developed full high-voltage and low-voltage schematics, implemented precharge logic, and sized fuses, contactors, and DC-DC converters to handle system loads. Cooling and airflow were analyzed to ensure safe thermal performance under race conditions.
Motor & Drivetrain
The vehicle uses an in-hub electric motor paired with a programmable inverter and motor controller. The team reconfigured the motor to operate with a three-phase AC controller and performed resistance, inductance, and impedance testing to validate performance.
Acceleration and regenerative braking profiles were developed to improve drivability and energy efficiency. CAN communication links the motor controller to the vehicle control unit for coordinated system control.
Embedded Systems & Telemetry
A custom vehicle control unit serves as the central control system of the car, running Linux-based software developed by the team. The system manages throttle input, regenerative braking, battery management communication, precharge logic, lighting, and safety systems.
Custom CAN messages and DBC files enable reliable communication between subsystems. The team developed a user interface for both the driver and chase vehicle, providing real-time telemetry including vehicle state, speed, power usage, and system health.
Brakes & Safety Systems
Vehicle safety is a core design priority. The car features a high-powered, dual-balanced braking system with custom-cut rotors and integrated rear brake geometry to ensure consistent stopping performance.
Steering geometry is fully adjustable to optimize handling and driver ergonomics, with steering-wheel-mounted controls for accessibility. All high-voltage components undergo safety testing, and layered electrical protections are implemented throughout the system to meet or exceed competition safety requirements.
Gallery
Detailed looks at the systems and components that power the solar car.
Learn More
The vehicle is the result of a multidisciplinary effort across engineering and operations.