Student-built EV covers 1,864 miles in 44 hours to win solar race

The Sophie 8X, a solar-powered electric vehicle built by students from Hong Kong’s Vocational Training Council (VTC), won the Cruiser class of the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. The race covered approximately 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) across the Australian outback, which Sophie 8X completed in 44 hours at an average speed of 68.7 km/h (42.7 mph). The vehicle’s lightweight design, featuring a 15.2 kWh battery weighing just 40 kilograms and six square meters of solar panels on its roof, demonstrated how efficiency and innovation can outperform heavier mainstream EVs like the Tesla Model Y, which weighs over twice as much and uses a much larger battery pack. Key technical advancements included the use of in-wheel permanent magnet synchronous motors that are 18% lighter than previous versions, paired with a third-generation silicon carbide semiconductor controller that improved energy efficiency by 30% at cruising speeds. Aerodynamic optimization through