Students at The Grainger College of Engineering are proven pioneers in sustainable transport. The multidisciplinary Illini Solar Car team raced their newest model, Calypso, at the 2024 American Solar Challenge this July. The team placed fourth place in their class, with the third highest distance traveled — 1566 miles.

Hosted by the Innovators Educational Foundation, the American Solar Challenge is a design engineering competition open to universities from across the U.S. and internationally. There are three main components to the challenge, starting with a vehicle examination (Scrutineering), then a track race known as the Formula Sun Grand Prix. After passing these first two stages, teams can enter the main American Solar Challenge, a 1500+ mile road race, this year beginning in Nashville, Tennessee, traveling through the Midwest, and ending in Casper, Wyoming. In 2024, 32 teams entered the competition, with 25 progressing to the track race and 14 competing in the road race. Illini Solar Car was one of just 11 teams that made it to the finish line.

This was Calypso’s first time competing in the American Solar Challenge. Calypso has a solar array more powerful than her predecessors and a three-wheel structure allowing her to coast more than previous vehicles. Another big improvement was speed – the team’s average speed increased from 30 miles per hour to 40, even hitting a top speed of 65 miles per hour.

Solar Car Crew Chief Selis Yaltkaya says: “The three cars that finished ahead of us had all previously raced before, and we were bringing a brand-new car, racing it for the first time. We really showed that our new concept could get up there and compete.”

Their next goal is to do it all again, but better, starting with the Formula Sun Grand Prix in 2025. The longer-term aim is working towards the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2027 with a new fourth-generation car.

Older models don’t go to waste. Illini Solar Car donated the shell and many of the parts from their first car, Argo, to Texas A&M University to help kick-start the new solar car team. Their second Illini Solar Car, Brizo, has donated many parts to Calypso.

“We try and reuse, especially from a design perspective. Once you get something reliable, you want to iterate on it and make it better, instead of starting over from scratch,” says Luke Granger, Illini Solar Car Race Team Captain for summer 2024.

Luke and Selis are enthusiastic about their time spent with Illini Solar Car. Luke graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering this May and is continuing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for his master’s degree in electrical engineering.

“Being on a solar car team is one of the best opportunities I had in my undergrad. You can apply a lot of what you're learning in the classroom on the team and understand, okay, that's why I learned that. When we're debugging complicated issues with motors and batteries, the basics that you learn in your classes start to make sense,” says Luke. He emphasized that for anyone interested in joining the team, there’s no requirement for certain majors. “All you have to do is show up and put in work. It's a great opportunity, and anybody who puts in the time will get a lot out of it.”

After graduating this summer with a degree in mechanical engineering and minor in electrical engineering, Selis started her first job at Tesla a few weeks ago, as a Mechanical Design Engineer. Selis says: “I got a once in a lifetime experience from this team, and precious hands-on engineering experience. I got to see what the things I learned in class actually mean in real life, and that is now what helps me do my job.”

With over 200 members, the Illini Solar Car team comes from departments across Grainger Engineering and the university, and new members are welcome to apply regardless of major. It’s been a big year for the team, that also debuted Calypso at the Chicago Auto Show in February. We look forward to seeing what Illini Solar Car achieves next!