A group of engineering students at IIT Madras is preparing to take on one of the world’s toughest solar-powered racing events, carrying with them not just a cutting-edge machine but also India’s engineering ambitions.

Team Agnirath has designed and built a solar racing car from scratch that will compete in the prestigious Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa in September this year. Powered entirely by sunlight harvested through high-efficiency solar panels, the car generates electricity in real time to keep moving across vast stretches of road.

This will be the team’s second international outing after competing in Australia last year, making them the only Indian student team to have participated in multiple global solar car challenges.

The race itself is no easy feat. Teams must navigate a gruelling 2,300-kilometre route from Johannesburg to Cape Town, with the objective of covering the maximum possible distance in the shortest possible time while relying primarily on solar energy.

Over the past year, the IIT Madras team has refined the vehicle using lessons learnt from Australia and by studying the designs of leading international competitors. The upgraded car has already completed more than 1,000 kilometres of testing to validate the reliability of its solar panels, battery systems and overall performance.

“Our previous car could maintain 60 kmph but was still energy negative. Now we’ve pushed that to 65 kmph while consuming almost the same amount of energy that we generate,” says Team Director Pranav Adhityaa D. “We’ve also improved the battery system, made the solar panels more efficient by changing their layer configuration, and significantly reduced the weight of the car.”

Building the solar racer has cost nearly ₹1.5 crore, supported by sponsors including TotalEnergies, ZF CVCS, CPCL and Waaree. Pranav adds the investment is worth it amid the fossil fuel crisis.  He adds “The future of solar mobility is quite bright. Solar cars could take on the roads of india and it is important we invest for more sustainable forms of transport for a bight future”.

Beyond the competition, the project has become a platform for innovation and inclusion. Arudhra, the team’s Mechanical Lead and its only woman member, says the experience has fulfilled a childhood dream.

“Working with cars and aerospace has always been my dream. Today, I’m part of a team building solar race cars, and I’m happy to see more girls choosing engineering and entering this field,” she says.

Confident that months of research, testing and teamwork will pay off, Team Agnirath hopes to deliver its strongest performance yet while showcasing India’s engineering talent on the global stage.