Illini Solar Car

Name

Illini Solar Car

Legal name

Illini Solar Car

Website

https://illinisolarcar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

• Solar vehicle racing
• Collegiate engineering projects
• Carbon fiber composites
• Battery management systems
• Custom telemetry systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led organization distributing Sustainable Campus Environment Fee and Cleaner Energy Technologies Fee. Reviews and funds projects increasing environmental stewardship at University of Illinois.
• CadencecoreTechnology or IntegrationElectronic systems design software leader providing computational software expertise. Supports team with design tools for circuit board and system development.
• ANSYScoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal leader in engineering simulation providing simulation software for analyzing suspension, chassis, and structural performance.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides NX CAD software used by the team to model and plan vehicle geometry before manufacturing.
• Flying ScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRapid prototype and manufacturing company lending facilities and expertise in composite manufacturing to help produce structural panels for vehicles.
• SolcaststrategicTechnology or IntegrationSolar forecasting and irradiance data company providing access to rapid update forecasting data for race strategy optimization.
• Bay Area CircuitscoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinted Circuit Board supplier serving high-tech electronics manufacturers with quick-turn prototyping and production.
• BoeingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor aerospace company supporting team with sponsorship.
• John DeereminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment manufacturer supporting team with sponsorship.
• Engineering Design CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by College of Engineering to promote interdisciplinary design projects and provide matching support for team-based projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/illinisolarcar
• Facebookfacebook.com/illinisolarcar
• Instagraminstagram.com/illinisolarcarteam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/illini-solar-car

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Illini Solar Car