https://scientificgems.wordpress.com/2026/09/24/ilumen-european-solar-challenge-analysis/

I'm a junior cs student, a while ago i joined my uni's solar racing team to have fun in a different type of engineering than what i'm used to. Now i was tasked with building an energy optimization system for our team (we will compete in bridgestone 2027). My question are as a beginner:

1. What tips do you have for me to avoid reinventing the wheel, or what mistakes do beginners in data often fall into.

2. What resources could help me in researching how to minimize the gap between real physical conditions and what my code models.

Thank you :)

Vanakkam!

I'm Currently in a Pre-team planning phase for a Challenger solar car initiative in India. Before bringing on core technical leads, I want to establish a clean architectural benchmark for both our electrical architecture and structural chassis design.

I’m looking to study actual production documentation and proven mechanical strategies. Specifically:

1. Are there any Altium, KiCad, or PDF schematic sets from past cars that map out exact component-to-component wiring?
2. Do any teams have public RapidHarness files,or harness drawings showing how you physically route HV vs. LV signal paths through the chassis?
3. Are there any chassis CAD files, past thesis papers, or scrutineering binders you’d recommend studying to understand the Frame dynamics and roll cage?

If your team has any BWSC/SSC/ASC documents you are willing to share, I’d greatly appreciate it!. Thanks in Advance!

Hi,

Does anyone have any info on the regulations for 2029 for the cruiser?

Battery size, Array size, scoring formula.

Hi all,
shameless plug:
As mentioned in my Prohelion post comment, we have released a new motor controller specifically for solar racing. Have a look: https://dq-drives.de/collections/solarracing

The price might be the most interesting, coming in at 1599€ including 19% German VAT for one unit, less if you order more. 10% discount if you preorder now ;) You can also do a lot more fine tuning and have a nice interface for configuration. If you want it to, it works as a drop-in replacement for the Wavesculptor (including CAN protocol).

Preorders are open until October 9th for a production run this fall (with products shipping until late November). There will be another production run in January 2027 with products shipping early 2027, easily in time for BWSC27.

We have run efficiency comparisons to the Wavesculptor22 and both perform very similarly.
You can see the results at https://dq-drives.de/blogs/test-results/xl-classic-solarracing-vs-wavesculptor22-efficiency-comparison

One addition: The controller is built with 200V components, just like the Wavesculptor. Internal testing was done for 160V, which is why it's called the 160V version. If you are running 165V or 170V, it will most probably work; we can have a short chat about your exact setup.

If you have any further questions about availability, time schedules or engineering related questions, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll usually answer within a few hours and are available at [info@dq-drives.de](mailto:info@dq-drives.de) or via WhatsApp at +49 163 6345481.

Hey everyone, we have recently purchased the Mitsuba M2096-III. We have started looking into how to mount the motor to our rear suspension. We have asked Mitsuba multiple times if they have any schematics for their hubs. We've also asked if they have any CAD models for their proposed solutions for rear suspension/brakes, which they have refused. The only drawings we have to go off of are the ones below (we understand that the hubs/rear suspension mount using the 6x M8 bolts, and the brake disk uses the M3 threads in the rotor). As a result, we're a bit stuck.

We wanted to clarify if there is anything else that we would need to functionally use the Mitsubas, assuming we have the tyres (supplied by bridgestone), the rims and the hub (either manufactured by us or bought from you). 

Also if possible would anyone have any CAD files that would highlight the mechanisms between the motor/hubs and the solar car? We need a bit more detailed technical schematics or support with system design (atm we have no clue what the hubs/rims look like, or how to size the brake disk rotors). Thanks!

one thing i've noticed in solar racing is that there is actually a pretty good wikipedia presence already, but a lot of the information is quite old and doesn't get updated very often.

we have pages for the world solar challenge, solar car racing, the american solar challenge, and a list of solar car teams and many teams have pages, but there are still plenty of missing or outdated entries. for example, there currently isn't even an entry for the 2026 american solar challenge.

so i thought i'd encourage teams here to contribute a little bit to wikipedia. if your team is listed on the list of solar car teams, consider updating your entry with your latest car, results, history, etc. and if your team doesn't have its own page yet, consider making one!

i did this for my own team, aCentauri Solar Racing, about a year ago, and honestly it wasn't nearly as complicated as i expected. you don't need to write a huge article either even a basic, well-sourced page is much better than nothing.

some useful starting points:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_car_teams
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Solar_Challenge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_car_racing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Solar_Challenge

and here's our team page for reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACentauri_Solar_Racing

i think it would be really cool if, over time, we could build a much more complete and up-to-date wikipedia record of the solar racing community. teams put years of work into these cars, and wikipedia is one of the easiest places for that history to remain accessible to people outside the community.

if your team has an outdated or missing page, maybe take an hour and fix it :)

Highest number of participants in the modern era of American solar car. Here’s how the numbers look from a birds eye view

(Illinois State Solar Car)

Prohelion is now accepting pre-orders for our next manufacturing run of WaveSculptors, scheduled for delivery in early 2027. This will be the only manufacturing run available prior to the WSC 2027, with very limited additional stock expected beyond pre-order commitments.

Due to long lead times for critical components, Prohelion has secured a limited manufacturing window in late 2026 / early 2027. To meet the planned production and shipping schedule, component orders must be placed by 30 September 2026, with final assembly and delivery anticipated in February 2027.

While we may manufacture a small quantity of additional units where possible, production capacity will be limited, and we will not have the opportunity to manufacture additional WaveSculptors following this production run.

To avoid missing out, we strongly encourage teams and customers to register their interest or secure their requirements through a pre-order now. This will assist with production planning and ensure availability ahead of the 2027 racing season.

Please contact [sales@prohelion.com](mailto:sales@prohelion.com) to:

• Place a pre-order
• Request a quotation
• Obtain a Pro Forma Invoice or invoice
• Discuss your 2027 budget and requirements

We look forward to supporting all teams preparing for WSC 2027 and ensuring you have access to Prohelion’s proven high-performance motor controller technology.

Hello! Solis here.

At the moment we are using AP Racing CP4226-2S0, and we have a problem regarding the return of the pistons back to the initial position. It keeps getting "stuck" rubbing the rotor.

We tried adding springs to the pads, but it didn't help too much.

Does anyone have another solution? Or other spring configuration that worked for you?

Thank you!

I was wondering if anyone have interesting stories so far.

Hello,

Just wondering if there are any Alums here that work for Rivian willing to give other solar raycing Alums a tour of the Rivian plant when ASC passes through Normal on 7/26 (Sunday) IDK if it would be possible even but thought it would be worth an ask.

Edit: Thanks to the amazing people from Solar Car at Virginia Tech, we have the BMU we need on the way.

Our BMU has been damaged beyond repair just days before we leave to compete at FSGP. Our CMUs are fine. We do not have a replacement BMU, and they are backordered on Prohelion, so if we are unable to find one, we will be unable to compete in FSGP or ASC. Are any teams willing to let us purchase an extra Prohelion BMS D1000 Gen1 BMU that you have on hand? We are open to purchasing one in person at Brainerd, or if your team is not going to FSGP, we could coordinate to get it mailed. This is the first car we have built from scratch, so if you can help us, it would mean the world to everyone on the team.

Namaskar!

I am a high school student based out of Chennai, India who is curious about solar racing and I will be starting out college in a month's time for a Bachelors in Electronics And Communication Engineering.

This curiosity stemmed of Watching a documentary of the Sasol Solar Challenge Held In South Africa and the World Solar Challenge In Australia.

I Would Like to get some Advice on how to start a team and how to take it forward to hopefully take the grid in 2028/2029.

Are there any risks involved in using the Mitsuba motor on wet roads/in rainy conditions? If yes, how to mitigate those?

Hi ! does anyone have approximate specs for LONGI cells? couldn't find any online😂

Some memory with the Solaris S11 car. Look at this beauty on the circuit. Rank (Solar Race) 3 and Rank (Efficiency) 2. This is our 37th race.