The SOLIS team from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (UTCN) has officially launched SOLIS Hyperion, the latest solar vehicle developed by students, ready to participate in the prestigious Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2025, which will take place in Australia. The Romanian students will compete with 36 other teams from 18 countries, and their vehicle will travel over 3,000 kilometres through the Australian desert – from Darwin to Adelaide – using only solar energy and a maximum 3 kWh battery. Thanks to its performance, the team from the Technical University of Cluj, which is bringing solar innovation to the international stage, has been included in the ‘100 Youngsters for Romania's Development’ campaign run by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania.
This remarkable achievement represents the culmination of a journey that started in 2018, when an idea born out of passion turned into a landmark project for Romanian technical education. The SOLIS project is not just about building vehicles, but actively promotes green technologies, sustainability and the professional development of young Romanian engineers, who are directly involved in the construction of vehicles powered entirely by solar energy.
The initiator of the project is Associate Professor Dr. Ing. Ștefan Breban, who, inspired by his academic experience in France, managed to bring this vision back to Romania, laying the foundations for a unique educational and technological endeavour. From the first prototype, EV1 (2019), to the current Hyperion (2025), the team has built and tested five generations of solar vehicles, successfully participating in international competitions in Belgium, Italy and Australia.
The Hyperion model is the most advanced vehicle developed by the SOLIS team. It retains the carbon fibre monocoque body of the previous model, but benefits from a completely revised design with an extended wheelbase and increased solar surface area of 6 m², which improves energy efficiency. The vehicle is equipped with a Halo protection system for driver safety, headlights and lights designed and built entirely by the team, and optimised electrical systems for low consumption. The battery has a capacity of 3 kWh, and propulsion is provided by a reliable electric motor, successfully used in previous versions. The total length of the vehicle is 5225 mm, and the entire assembly reflects a combination of innovation, performance and sustainability.
Participating in the Australian competition is not a first for the team. In 2023, the EV3 model became the first Romanian solar vehicle to complete the 1,200 km race in the same competition, using only solar energy. The SOLIS team brings together over 40 students from different fields of study – mechanics, electrical engineering, electronics, software, aerodynamics, industrial design and management – offering them an interdisciplinary, practical and real-world educational experience. Students are actively involved in all stages of the project: from concept and design to manufacturing, testing and participation in international competitions.
The size and impact of the project are also recognised at national level: the team recently joined the ‘100 Youngsters for Romania's Development’ campaign organised by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, being considered an example of excellence for the future generation.
