Illini Solar Car
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersUrbana, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
Illini Solar Car firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Illini Solar Car
- Legal name
- Illini Solar Car
- Website
- https://illinisolarcar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Illini Solar Car industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar-Electric Vehicles
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Motors & Generators (3621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Inverters, Power Optimizers & MLPE Manufacturing (EUAMAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Truck & Commercial Vehicle Electrification Manufacturing (eAxles/Battery Packs/Fuel Cells) (IMACABAK), Solar Balance-of-System Components (Cables, Combiner Boxes, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAMABAG)
Keywords
Where Illini Solar Car is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Urbana
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Illini Solar Car business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support at various tiers (Orange & Blue, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Friends) in exchange for recognition and branding opportunities. Includes both monetary donations and in-kind support such as software licenses, manufacturing services, and components.
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through online PayPal donations, mail-in checks, and crowdfunding campaigns. The Sponsor-a-Cell campaign allows donors to sponsor individual solar cells for $50 or more.
- University Support: Funding and support from University of Illinois departments including the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Student Sustainability Committee, Engineering Design Council, and Student Organization Resource Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sponsor-a-Cell Campaign - $50 minimum donation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Illini Solar Car product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Illini Solar Car designs, builds, and races custom solar-electric vehicles for collegiate competitions. The team has produced four generations of vehicles — Argo (1st gen, 2014–2017), Brizo (2nd gen, 2018–2021), Calypso (3rd gen, debuted 2024), and Project D (4th gen, in development for 2026) — each custom-engineered with carbon fiber composite chassis, proprietary electrical systems, high-efficiency solar arrays, and battery packs. The vehicles compete in Formula Sun Grand Prix, American Solar Challenge, and Bridgestone World Solar Challenge events.
Product overview
Illini Solar Car designs, builds, and races custom solar-electric vehicles for collegiate competitions. The team has developed four generations of solar cars: Argo (first generation, 2014-2017), Brizo (second generation, 2018-2021), Calypso (third generation, debuted 2024), and Project D (fourth generation, targeting 2026). Each vehicle is custom-designed and manufactured from carbon fiber composites, featuring proprietary electrical systems, battery packs, and solar arrays. The cars compete in Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) track races and American Solar Challenge (ASC) cross-country races.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Argo The first-generation solar car built by Illini Solar Car from 2014 to 2017. A road-legal, single-seater solar vehicle with a carbon fiber panel chassis, dual DC direct drive motors, and 6 square meters of solar array. Placed 7th at the 2018 American Solar Challenge and 4th at the 2019 Formula Sun Grand Prix.
- Brizo The second-generation solar car built between 2018 and 2021. Features an entirely new shell design with a carbon fiber panel chassis, rear-wheel two-coil DC motor, and 4 square meters of silicon solar cells. Placed 3rd at FSGP 2021 and 4th on the road at ASC 2021, completing nearly 1,000 miles on the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
- Calypso Third-generation solar-electric vehicle unveiled in Fall 2023 — the team's first three-wheel car. Features a monocoque chassis made of advanced composites, a more efficient electrical system, custom double wishbone front and trailing arm rear suspension, and a proprietary telemetry program. Debuted at the 2024 American Solar Challenge (driving 1,566 miles from Nashville, TN to Casper, WY; 4th in SOV class) and won 1st Place in the SOV class at FSGP 2025 with a track-record 223 laps (700+ miles in 24 hours).
- Project D Fourth-generation solar car currently in final stages of development. Designed to be faster, more powerful, and more efficient than previous generations, targeting the 2026 American Solar Challenge. Includes a Sponsor-a-Cell donation program with $50 minimum contributions per solar cell to fund development.
Quantifiable outcome
- First-ever 1st Place SOV Class victory at FSGP 2025 with track record (223 laps, 700+ miles in 24 hours)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Illini Solar Car
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Illini Solar Car technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Illini Solar Car partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at IllinoiscoreProvides world-class education and access to facilities for the student team. Key institutional partner supporting the team's operations and recruitment of engineering talent.
- Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)coreStudent-led organization distributing Sustainable Campus Environment Fee and Cleaner Energy Technologies Fee. Reviews and funds projects increasing environmental stewardship at University of Illinois.
- CadencecoreElectronic systems design software leader providing computational software expertise. Supports team with design tools for circuit board and system development.
- ANSYScoreGlobal leader in engineering simulation providing simulation software for analyzing suspension, chassis, and structural performance.
- SiemenscoreProvides NX CAD software used by the team to model and plan vehicle geometry before manufacturing.
- Flying ScoreRapid prototype and manufacturing company lending facilities and expertise in composite manufacturing to help produce structural panels for vehicles.
- SolcaststrategicSolar forecasting and irradiance data company providing access to rapid update forecasting data for race strategy optimization.
- Bay Area CircuitscorePrinted Circuit Board supplier serving high-tech electronics manufacturers with quick-turn prototyping and production.
- BoeingminorMajor aerospace company supporting team with sponsorship.
- John DeereminorEquipment manufacturer supporting team with sponsorship.
- Engineering Design CouncilcoreFounded by College of Engineering to promote interdisciplinary design projects and provide matching support for team-based projects.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Illini Solar Car competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Illini Solar Car social profiles
Digital presenceIllini Solar Car financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Illini Solar Car leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Illini Solar Car funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Illini Solar Car M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Illini Solar Car
What does Illini Solar Car do?
Illini Solar Car designs, builds, and races custom solar-electric vehicles for collegiate competitions. The team has produced four generations of vehicles — Argo (1st gen, 2014–2017), Brizo (2nd gen, 2018–2021), Calypso (3rd gen, debuted 2024), and Project D (4th gen, in development for 2026) — each custom-engineered with carbon fiber composite chassis, proprietary electrical systems, high-efficiency solar arrays, and battery packs. The vehicles compete in Formula Sun Grand Prix, American Solar Challenge, and Bridgestone World Solar Challenge events.
Is Illini Solar Car a public or private company?
Illini Solar Car is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Illini Solar Car founded?
Illini Solar Car was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Illini Solar Car based?
Illini Solar Car is headquartered in Urbana, United States, in the North America region.
How does Illini Solar Car make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Corporate Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations and university Support.
Does Illini Solar Car have an API?
No public API is recorded for Illini Solar Car.
What industry is Illini Solar Car in?
Illini Solar Car's product category is Solar-Electric Vehicles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAHAB, Solar Inverters, Power Optimizers & MLPE Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMACABAK, Truck & Commercial Vehicle Electrification Manufacturing (eAxles/Battery Packs/Fuel Cells). Its NAICS code is 33632 and its SIC code is 3600.