Solar-powered vehicles take on 2,500 km road challenge
Young engineers and university teams set off from Johannesburg in solar-powered vehicles as the 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge puts their designs to the test on a journey of more than 2,500 kilometers towards Cape Town.
Solar-powered vehicles will compete in a 2,500 km road challenge, with the winner determined by the total kilometers traveled rather than the order of arrival, according to event director Rob Walker. Each day, teams must complete a minimum distance, with optional loop stops allowing them to accumulate additional kilometers. Denzel Brits, a mechanical engineering student from North-West University, emphasizes that the terrain presents the greatest challenge, noting that even slight inclines can drain battery power.
The team has developed a tilting solar panel to maximize energy collection, automatically adjusting the panel's angle to face the sun throughout the day. For Central University of Technology driver Masheko Mhore, participation in the competition represents an opportunity to pave the way for African Black individuals in the field.
The challenge, which runs from September 10 to 17, also includes a schools program aimed at encouraging young learners to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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