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| Founded | 1989 |
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| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
Key people |
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| Parent | University of Michigan |
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| Website | solarcar |
TheUniversity of Michigan Solar Car Team is an engineering project team at theUniversity of Michigan inAnn Arbor that designs, builds, and races some of the world's most advanced solar-electric vehicles. Having won theNorth American Solar Challenge (NASC) ten times (out of a possible thirteen), the team is regarded as the most successful in North America. Internationally, they placed third in theWorld Solar Challenge (WSC) six times and placed second in 2017 – the best ever achieved by an American collegiate team. Many of the team's 16 vehicles are on display in museums in the United States and abroad.
Founded in 1989 by Bill Kaliardos, an undergraduate student in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, the University of Michigan Solar Car Team is one of the largest and most successful student projects at the university. The inaugural 1990 team, which formed in 1989, was eventually managed by Susan Fancy, with Professor and Dean Gene Smith serving as the team's Faculty Advisor. Gene Smith was also Advisor for many other U-M Solar Car Teams to follow. The teams have built elevensolar cars and competed in 15 major races. Although it draws heavily onundergraduate students from theCollege of Engineering, students from anyacademic discipline or year of study are allowed to join the team. Students have also come from theCollege of LS&A, theRoss School of Business, and theStamps School of Art & Design.
In 1990, the team's first car, Sunrunner, finished in first place in the inaugural GMSunrayce USA,[1] and third place overall (first place in Student category) in the 1990 World Solar Challenge in Australia. Core team members of the 1990 team included Susan Fancy, Paula Finnegan, David Noles,Chetan Maini (Maini went on to become the founder ofReva which is one of the major electric car companies in India), David Bell, Jef Pavlat, Andy Swiecki, Chris Gregory, and many more.
The second generation team built its car,Maize & Blue, and competed in Sunrayce 93 (the predecessor to theNorth American Solar Challenge) finishing in first place in the national race, and 11th in theWorld Solar Challenge.
After 1993's races, all projects have run on a 2-year cycle. During those two years, the team is typically anywhere from 50 to 125 students. The vast majority of these students volunteer their time freely, although in the past a small percentage opt to receive credit via the university'sUndergraduate Research Opportunities Program (or UROP). A race crew of approximately 20 students is selected to race the vehicle in competition. These students' function is similar to that of apit crew in professionalauto racing.
As of 2024, UM's solar car project has won the North American championship ten times, and had 7 podium finishes at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
The team has been featured in the following local, national, and international media:
