Invest in Our Award-Winning Solar Car Team's Rebuild
After a third-place podium finishes at the American Solar
Challenge (2024) and the SC Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix (2023 and 2024) against
top schools in the field of technology and engineering, the ISU Solar Car Team
is a point of pride for Illinois State University.
It's been 6 years since the current model (Mercury 6) was
built. A rebuild is imperative to keep up with the latest technology and to
keep our competitive edge in national competitions.
The overall cost to build a upgraded solar car will be over
$60,000.
Thanks to our generous alumni and friends for already
giving over $5,000 towards that goal!
Your donation will help to pay for new power trackers that
will optimize the performance of the solar array, as well as other components
needed for the launch of Mercury 7 in the 2025 Formula Sun Grand Prix.
The goal of the Illinois State Solar Car Team is to design
and construct a new fully solar-powered vehicle according to the latest set of
regulations released by the American Solar Challenge (ASC), then race that car
at the ASC’s biennial race in 2026.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Solar Car Team!
The Illinois State University Solar Car Team is a
student-led organization (RSO) that designs, builds, and races solar vehicles
against teams from around the world. This year, we are
celebrating the team's 20th Anniversary as an RSO on campus that has
participated in collegiate competition for 20 years straight! READ MORE
HERE
The team consists of a multidisciplinary group of
undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty who volunteer time and
energy to advance their skills and the promise of renewable energy.
Students working on the Solar Car Team have the opportunity
for hands-on learning for their future careers - learning about renewable
energy, project management, engineering and design, welding, programming, 3-D
modeling, and multidisciplinary teamwork.
The
award-winning team successfully builds a new solar car approximately every three
years. Your gift will help to provide technology and equipment, as well as
cover expenses for travel to national collegiate competitions.
Thank you for supporting our students!
The Solar Car Team is a registered student organization
sponsored by Dr. Daniel Holland, Chair, Department of Physics. Your donation is
100% tax-deductible through the ISU Foundation Solar Car Team Fund.
If you would like to discuss other ways to give,
gifts-in-kind, or sponsorship opportunities of the Solar Car, please call the
Office of Annual Giving at 309-438-7725.
Thank you for supporting the vision and goals of these
accomplished Redbirds with the Solar Car Team.