Brands seek next EV breakthrough at Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
Global carmakers are battling it out in an increasingly high stakes search for the ‘Holy Grail’ of electric vehicles and it’s happening right here in Australia.
Australia’s world-famous solar car race is the ultimate testing ground for tomorrow’s transport and a battleground for the future of electric vehicles.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge has become so influential that major carmakers are backing university students to develop innotive solutions to EV problems.
This year, 35 teams travelling from Darwin to Adelaide, and more than 1000 people are supporting the challenge, each experimenting with renewable energy technology designed to push the limits of sustainable mobility.
Since its inception in the mid-1980s, the commercial potential of solar cars had little relevance to the automotive industry.
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However, the event only recently become a magnet for some of the world’s largest automotive and energy companies.
As electric vehicles and hybrids dominate the global market, the innovations developed in the harsh Australian outback are directly feeding into the future of transport and energy systems.
NEXT GEN PROVING GROUND
Bridgestone is one example.
The company, which has been a major partner for over a decade, has turned the challenge into a proving ground for next-generation tyres.
The company is supporting teams with “ENLITEN” technology made from predominantly recycled and renewable materials, shipped using low-carbon methods, and engineered for both durability and efficiency.
Bridgestone’s Global Motorsports Chief, Hiroshi Imai, says the data collected from the challenge offers crucial insights into how the brand can adapt its tech for everyday use.
“This is a very unique event. There’s nothing else quite like it,” Mr Imai said.
“The requirements are incredibly high — lightweight, long-distance, and tough enough to survive the Australian outback. Analysing this environment gives us valuable insight into how we can bring this technology into our everyday tyres.”
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THE ‘INNOVATION CURVE’
Automotive giants such as Ford, CUPRA, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and GWM are also backing teams to experiment with electrification and efficiency breakthroughs by allowing students to testbed future technologies that could make their way into road cars.
This year, CUPRA threw its support behind Sunswift, the reigning Cruiser Class champion, and the Brunel team competing in the Challenger Class. Meanwhile, Audi backed TUfast, another strong contender in the Challenger Class.
Mercedes-Benz Germany also offered Team Sonnenwagen Aachen substantial support in optimising electrical design and energy efficiency.
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Former Red Bull head of operations chief Richard Hopkins says the challenge has become a vital platform for the University of New South Wales to stay ahead of the “innovation curve”.
“As the world moves towards electrification, these cars are more relevant than ever,” Hopkins said.
“There’s an innovation curve, and we don’t want to be behind it — we want to be ahead of it.”
Richard is currently a UNSW Professor of Practice, where he oversees a standout project known as Sunswift 8 — a futuristic car being developed by UNSW students.
It is being hailed as the world’s first “Tri-Brid” vehicle, combining solar power, battery storage and hydrogen fuel cell technology, and it’s being designed to meet road-legal standards.
Sunswift already holds multiple world records, including the Guinness World Record for the fastest EV to cover 1000km on a single charge, and its latest concept reflects how this event inspires technologies that stretch beyond the track.
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“We need to have everything comply for those regulations. Sunswift 7, the composite moulding we had, maybe 20, 25 individual moulds,” Hopkins said.
“For the new car, it’s 240, so it’s a lot more complex, a lot more systems and everything else.
“It’s going to be an amazing car when it hits the roads, hopefully this time next year.”
Teams participating in the event are pioneering battery management systems that maximise energy storage and reduce waste. At the same time, advances in solar integration could be the solution to helping drive down household energy costs and pave the way for efficient solar-assisted living.
“There’s technical conversations to see if there’s any crossover with what we’re doing, which is fantastic,” Hopkins said.
The 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge features two distinct classes.
The Challenger Class is designed for speed and efficiency, featuring teams that race using only solar energy.
In contrast, the Cruiser Class emphasises practicality, showcasing solar-powered vehicles that resemble everyday cars.
Teams focus on balancing comfort, sustainability, and intelligent design, illustrating how solar energy could power future vehicles.
This year, international participants include teams from Germany, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Estonia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge ends in Adelaide on August 31.
Originally published as Brands seek next EV breakthrough at Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
