Racing 4,000 Kilometres Across America in a Solar-Powered car

Aug 05, 2026

COLOGNE, Germany – A team of students from KU Leuven University in Belgium have just won an incredible 4,000-kilometre race across America in a solar-powered car, with support from Ford.

The students, members of Innoptus Solar Team, saw off competition from the United States, Canada, Belgium, and The Netherlands to win the Electreck American Solar Challenge in their Infinite Apollo car.

It was a historic moment for the team. KU Leuven students have previously won two world championships in Australia, the European Championship at the Zolder circuit, a competition in Chile, and a competition in South Africa.

"We’ve just crossed the finish line of the American Solar Challenge. It was our first time competing in this race, and we won it right away. So, everyone is overjoyed, and we’re going to celebrate in a big way," said Loïc De Bruyn, Race Engineer.

Make sure to check out this photo gallery from the race:

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Racing 4,000 Kilometres Across America in a Solar-Powered car
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It took the team two years to design and build the car
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That winning feeling
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The route took the competitors from Minneapolis to Amarillo
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It took the team two years to design and build the car
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Competitors got to race along Route 66
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Infinite Apollo has a 3 kWh battery, and an in-house-developed high-efficiency motor

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The route took the competitors from Minneapolis to Amarillo, following the impressive Mississippi River, the Great River Road, and the legendary Route 66.

“There were so many unknowns—a new organization, new rules, and extreme heat,” said Anthony Vanden Abeele, Route Reconnaissance Lead. “Everyone really struggled with the heat: the drivers, of course, but the whole team too, spending their days sleeping in tents amidst extreme humidity. But looking back at the entire journey, I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was fantastic to go through this with such an enthusiastic and committed team.”

Ford has been supporting the team with the development of their solar racers since 2005. In 2022, the team set a new world record for solar car travel by clocking up 1,051 kilometres in 12 hours at Ford’s Lommel Proving Ground.

The team’s latest racer, Infinite Apollo, was designed and built between 2024 and 2025. It features a 6 m² solar array, two fixed aerodynamic fins for crosswind stability, a 3 kWh battery, and an in-house-developed high-efficiency motor. Weighing just 170 kg, it can travel more than 300 kilometres on solar power alone.