Imagine twenty-one students with one common goal: building the most efficient solar vehicle of the world. The students of Solar Team Twente develop a new solar car from scratch within only one year. This car is designed to drive more than 3.000 kilometers by only using solar energy. Sounds crazy? It is, but student team Solar Team Twente makes the impossible possible. By competing in several solar races around the world, the team challenges the limits of existing technology every year. In october 2023 the team will participate in the unique and extremely challenging Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, driving from Darwin to Adelaide through the outback in Australia.

Solar Team Twente entails passion for innovation, passion for efficient mobility, and passion to inspire others. With over 15 years of experience and a strong network of companies and former team members, they prepare for the races like others would for the Olympics. A new team starts every 2 years in September, participates in the iLumen European Solar Challenge in Belgium in the same month and then works hard for one year to build the most efficient solar car of the world. The car is able to drive across the Australian continent only powered by solar energy, which means that efficiency is key. Several aspects of the car are affecting the efficiency, so they must be designed well. Examples are the aerodynamic shape, the performance of the battery and of course the efficiency of the solar panel. Within this interdisciplinary team, the three sub-teams must work closely to realize a reliable and efficient solar car.

The solar team is located in Enschede, the Netherlands. It is part of the University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences and ROC van Twente. Solar Team Twente is one of the biggest student teams of the Netherlands. It unites more than 150 companies in and outside the country to build the most efficient solar car of the world together with the team. Team members pause their studies for one and a half years to show what one can achieve in a short period of time. Their goal is to inspire others to contribute to a more sustainable society themselves. Together, we make a difference!