A 200 kilogram vehicle, powered by solar panels with an efficiency of more than 24%, capable of running at speeds of over 100 km/h and covering thousands of kilometers on public roads. This is the achievement of the Solis team at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, where students and professors build experimental vehicles for international competitions every year. Beyond its technical performance, Solis is a unique educational laboratory in Romania, a place where project-based learning proves to be a powerful tool for professional training.
“In the end we really do build vehicles from scratch that end up being driven on public roads. And we build them ourselves, the students. That’s the beauty of this project,” explains Raymond Nemeth, Technical Team Manager in the Solis team.
A complete school by building a car from scratch
The project started in 2018, at the initiative of Professor Stefan Breban, and has evolved at a steady pace. The first vehicle was finalized in 2021, and since then the team has been building a new or improved model every year, depending on the rule changes in the international competitions they participate in.
The complexity is high: students design and produce almost all the subsystems – from steering and mechanical parts, using composites and 3D printers, to software and electronics. Even the photovoltaic panels are made in-house: silicon cells are bought in as raw materials, and the team assembles and encapsulates them to make lighter and more flexible panels than standard ones. The result: an efficiency of over 24%, compared with about 21% for commercial panels available on the market.
Solis vehicles are built for maximum efficiency, not comfort. The total weight is 200 kg (440 lbs), the battery is only 3 kWh (15 kg), and fuel consumption is ten times less than a Tesla Model 3, one of the most efficient cars in production. The choice of three wheels, the use of special tires with minimal rolling resistance and the adoption of 100% Ackermann steering geometries (when cornering, the front wheels describe two perfectly concentric circles) are all solutions that reduce losses and increase performance.
Experiential learning and crisis management
For students, Solis is more than a technical project: it’s an exercise in professional life. The team goes through all the stages – design, simulation, testing, homologation, logistics, verification in international competitions – and each step involves real challenges.
At this year’s World Solar Challenge in Australia, the Hyperion vehicle traveled 2,717 km out of a total of 3,020 km, but had to stop due to extreme weather conditions. Along the way, the team dealt with problems such as a battery management system failure (solved in 90 minutes on the side of the road) and camping in the middle of the desert for five nights.
“If you go to work for an automotive company, you don’t see a project from start to finish, like we see a car being built from start to finish,” emphasizes Raymond Nemeth. This well-rounded experience develops not only technical knowledge but also essential skills for the job market: leadership, teamwork, resilience and quick adaptation.
A direct investment in the human resource of the energy transition
Today, the Solis team gathers more than 20 students, from undergraduate to PhD, coordinated by professors and connected to the network of industrial partners. Beyond its competitive performance, the project is a constant supplier of talent to automotive and energy companies. Many former team members have continued their careers in international companies or moved into research, taking their experience further.
For companies, involvement in the Solis initiative is a strategic opportunity: access to a stream of professionals already trained in practical conditions, visibility in an inspiring project and association with a team that promotes sustainability and innovation.
This is why Solis support is not just about sponsoring a solar vehicle. It is an investment in the human capital that is building Romania’s energy transition. For business leaders, it is an opportunity for strategic branding and association with innovation. For decision-makers in PR, CSR and ESG departments, it is an initiative of social and educational impact that deserves to be supported and promoted.
More than 30 organizations have understood these strengths and are already joining the Solis team: BelcoAvia, VTV, AJ Brand, Axpo, Ebm-papst, Bosch, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Rubix, Distribuție Energie Electrică România (DEER), Terapia, Enery, Jpard, Trumpf, Sun Power, Promelek, ArtzPCB, Neon Product, Fundația Autonom, Nicmar Danci, INCAS, ReconBatt, Trambus, Rebel Dot, 3D DOT, Arobs, Lapp Group, EXT Racing, Grease Monkey, Electroglobal, Tehnologistic, Octonius, Coveme, Bridgestone Enliten, Getac, Cloud Center.