Israeli engineering team makes history at Europe’s 24-hour solar car race

A team of engineering students from Afeka Academic College of Engineering became the first Israeli team to compete in Belgium’s iLumen European Solar Challenge this month, completing nearly 800 kilometers (490 miles) in a solar-powered race car they designed and built. Competing as AFEKA Racing, the students completed 197 laps during the 24-hour endurance race, finishing 14th overall. The team placed first among the six teams making their debut in the competition. The project brought together students studying mechanical, electrical, software and industrial engineering, who worked across disciplines to design and build a solar-powered vehicle capable of competing in an international endurance race. The 24-hour competition tested both the car and the students’ ability to address engineering problems under race conditions. The team encountered communications problems with the vehicle’s computer system and greater-than-expected tire wear. Students also performed a wheel alignment during the race to keep the car running.