UC Irvine Solar Car Project 2024-25

Please consider supporting our team as we work to raise $15,000 for parts, tools and registration fees to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix this upcoming summer 2025.

Currently, we are registered (#95!) and in the midst of preparing for this exciting competition for our school. We welcome you to join us on our journey! Together, we can advance sustainable innovation and represent UC Irvine on the national stage. By donating, you’re not just supporting us – you’re becoming a part of our team! We’re so excited to have you along for the ride!

UC Irvine Solar Car members meeting with KU Solar Car founder Michael Srimongkolkul!

Our Races (FSGP 2025/ASC 2026) + Who We Are!

We are the UC Irvine Solar Car Project (ZotSun), a student-run interdisciplinary team of 50 undergraduates from UC Irvine with a passion for innovative engineering and sustainability. Our mission is to revolutionize zero-emission transportation. We are currently building UC Irvine’s first solar car to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix of 2025.

The 2025 Formula Sun Grand Prix is a premier collegiate event where teams race solar-powered vehicles, pushing the limits of efficiency, aerodynamics and sustainability over three days of intense competition. Our team is building an advanced solar car to compete in this exciting race, along with the 2026 American Solar Challenge – a 2,000-mile journey across the U.S. These competitions give us the opportunity to showcase the potential of solar technology and drive innovation in sustainable transportation.

Formula Sun Grand Prix 2022

Our team is made up of several specialized sub-teams, each contributing dedicated effort to our solar car project. These include:

Admin: Leading the overall team and managing logistics.
Chassis: Design and manufacturing of a lightweight, durable and safe chassis that, under ASC regulations, encapsulates all other subsystems of the vehicle together.
Suspension: Design, manufacturing and testing of the vehicle’s front and rear suspension, as well as the steering system.
Human Interface: Design, documentation and modeling of all mechanical components that the driver interacts with directly, enhancing driver experience, safety and control.
Aerobody: Design and fabrication of the solar car’s external aerodynamic shell.
High Voltage: The High-Voltage subteams (Solar, Motor and Battery) work on electrical components that are integral to powering our vehicle, including the motor, high-voltage safety panel, solar array and battery pack.
Low Voltage: Manages electrical and embedded systems, including dashboard programming, lighting, wireless communication, control and safety operations.
Operations: Managing sponsorships, events, outreach, fundraising, marketing, social media and public relations to support the team.

Each of these teams plays a crucial role in bringing our vision to life, working together to push the boundaries of solar transportation and sustainable automotive engineering.

Solar subteam fabricates solar modules at Maxeon (left) and the Aerobody subteam constructs their top shell layup (right)

With your support, UC Irvine can not only continue to lead in sustainability (having been recognized as one of the top 10 'Cool Schools' in the U.S. for sustainability by Sierra magazine for 12 consecutive years), but also establish itself as a formidable contender in solar competitions.

We’re deeply grateful for your generosity and excited to have you be part of our mission and family. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us. We look forward to what we can achieve together!