Our most capable vehicle to date.
Years Active:
2020-Current
Sunswift 7 is the seventh solar car developed by Sunswift Racing and represents a leap in efficiency and endurance. Designed during the COVID-19 pandemic, its development faced lockdowns, remote collaboration, and the cancellation of the 2021 World Solar Challenge - but the team persisted, unveiling the vehicle in 2022 after 18 months of intense work.
Built for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge’s Cruiser Class, Sunswift 7 features a lightweight carbon fibre chassis, a 5 m² solar array, and custom low-resistance tyres. Stripped of non-essentials to maximise performance, the car weighs just 500 kg and boasts an exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.095. In 2022, it broke a Guinness World Record by driving 1000 km on a single charge in under 12 hours, averaging nearly 85 km/h. It went on to win first place in the Cruiser Class at the 2023 World Solar Challenge - the first Australian team to do so.
The team continues to refine Sunswift 7 as it prepares to return to the world stage at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, showcasing the power of student-led innovation in sustainable transport.
Sunswift partnered with Optus to showcase the capabilities of the Optus 5G network, with Audi driver Chaz Mostert driving Sunswift 7 remotely around the Adelaide Parklands circuit.
Sunswift 7 achieved the fastest 1000 km achieved by an electric car on a single charge.
Sunswift 7 placed first overall in the cruiser class.
Sustainability at your doorstep.
Years Active:
2016-2019
Sunswift VIolet was the sixth solar vehicle designed and manufactured by the team, and the second to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge’s Cruiser Class. Development began in 2016 and the car was completed in late 2017.
VIolet was Sunswift’s first four-door, four-seat vehicle, equipped with a 5 m² solar array made up of 318 high-efficiency (22%) monocrystalline silicon cells. Designed to resemble a family car, VIolet introduced features such as live monitoring and fault detection, air conditioning, onboard entertainment, navigation, Wi-Fi, a reverse camera, adjustable seating, parking sensors, dual boot space, and an ergonomic dashboard.
VIolet competed in the 2017 World Solar Challenge but was forced to retire due to a mechanical issue, although it still secured 3rd place in the practicality judging. In December 2018, the team drove VIolet across the continent from Perth, setting a Guinness World Record for the lowest energy consumption while crossing Australia in an electric vehicle. Leading up to its final appearance in the 2019 World Solar Challenge, VIolet underwent extensive mechanical and electrical upgrades - closing out its chapter in Sunswift’s racing history.
3rd in Practicality Judging of Cruiser Class in World Solar Challenge
Lowest Energy Consumption Driving Trans-Australia (Perth to Sydney) - Electric Car.
Sunswift placed 2nd overall in the Cruiser class, and finished first across the line in Adelaide.
Pushing the limits of technology.
Years Active:
2012-2016
The design and construction of eVe began in early 2012 and was completed within 18 months, just in time for the 2013 World Solar Challenge.The car cost approximately $500,000 and was built to compete in the new Cruiser Class in the WSC. This class focused on more practical solar cars with passenger seats, greater safety and more efficient batteries. On a single charge of its batteries, eVe can travel up to 500 kilometres (310 mi) or over 800 kilometres (500 mi) if powered by its own solar cells.
In July 2014 The Sunswift team broke an FIA World Record which was overseen by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport, for the fastest electric vehicle capable of travelling 500 kilometres (310 mi) on a single battery charge. The team beat the previous record 73 kilometres per hour (45 mph) – set in 1988 – with an average speed of 107 kilometres per hour (66 mph) over the 500-kilometre (310 mi) distance, which was done at the Australian Automotive Research Centre in Victoria.
Sunswift eVe Line Honours and 3rd overall in Cruiser Class, including a top speed of 128 kilometres per hour (80mph).
Sunswift eVe breaks the record for the fastest electric car over 500 kilometres (310mi), with an average speed of 107 kilometres per hour (66mph). The previous record of 73 kilometres per hour (45mph) was set in 1988.
Sunswift eVe finished 3rd across the line and 4th overall.
A Guinness World Record holder.
Years Active:
2009-2011
As with eVe, IVy was built to compete in the World Solar Challenge, specifically for the 2009 race. However, unlike eVe, IVy raced as part of the Challenger Class and Challenger Class Silicon, finishing 4th overall despite being the first silicon powered car across the line. Overall, the entire project took approximately 18 months and $250,000 to complete.
On January 7, 2011, at the Royal Australian Navy airbase, HMAS Albatross, IVy broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest solar-powered vehicle. Australian racing driver Barton Mawer brought IVy to a top speed of 88.5 kilometres per hour (55.0 mph), beating the previous record of 22 years by over 10 kilometres per hour (6.2 mph). The rules of the record required that IVy be powered solely by the sun and with the entire battery pack removed, the car weighed only 140 kilograms (310 lb).
In 2011 IVy returned to the World Solar Challenge - where she consistently reached top speeds of 100km/h and above. After 5 days and 3021km of racing from Darwin to Adelaide we placed 1st in the Production Challenge Class and 6th overall.
Sunswift IV finished 1st in the Silicon Challenge Class and 4th overall at 3:08pm on 29 October.
Sunswift IVy finished 1st in the Production Challenge Class and 6th overall.
Fastest Solar Powered Vehicle: 88.8 kilometres per hour (55.2mph).
Perth to Sydney in 5 ½ days.
Years Active:
2005-2008
Sunswift III was designed for the 2005 WSC. Mechanical problems caused a crash before the race, and the car completed the course unofficially.
In 2006, the mechanics were improved. In January 2007, Jaycar Sunswift III broke the world transcontinental record, completing the drive from Perth to Sydney in 5.5 days.
In September, the team successfully completed the WSC in ninth place overall, and was also awarded the CSIRO technical innovation award, out of an initial field of 41 international entrants. The same year, the Sunswift team was awarded the 2007 Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Award for Education and Training.
UNSW Sunswift III was the 9th car (and the first with silicon solar cells) to cross the line, arriving in 5 days.
Jaycar Sunswift III broke the world record for a solar car journey from Perth to Sydney. The team finished the journey in 5.5 days, breaking the previous record by 3 days.
• Placed 4th in the Adventure Challenge
• Placed 9th overall in the World Solar Challenge
• Prestigious Freescale Technical Innovation Award (Most efficient)
Redefining sustainable transport.
Years Active:
1998-2005
Between 1997 and 2003, the team developed, refined and raced four versions of UNSW Sunswift II. In 2000-2001, the team embarked on the TopCell project to manufacture buried contact Solar Cells to construct a new solar array. This makes the UNSW Solar Racing Team the first and only team to have made their own solar cells. Along the way, the team achieved a new world record efficiency for this type of solar cell. The remaining cells on UNSW Sunswift II are the world's highest efficiency "PERL" silicon solar cells, made at UNSW. The team also pioneered a cell encapsulation technique which allowed the moulding of solar panels to the curved shape of the car.
NRMA Sunswift II finished a respectable 18th out of 48 international entries.
The car 'NRMA Sunswift II' completed 4,012 kilometres (2,493 mi) in ten days, despite five days of bad weather. Even though the record of 8½ days was not broken, the attempt was still regarded to be a success with $2.4 million worth of publicity generated.
Three days after completing the Perth-Sydney record attempt the team entered the CitiPower SunRace. NRMA Sunswift II obtained third place in a highly competitive field of five entries, proving the car's reliability and the team's dedication after five continuous weeks on the road.
NRMA Sunswift II participated in a trade exhibition in Taipei, on request from the Federal Government.
UNSW Sunswift II was the 11th car to cross the line.
The start of something new.
Years Active:
1996-1998
The original Sunswift vehicle was purchased from the Aurora Vehicle Association in 1996. The car, Aurora Q1, was significantly upgraded and improved by the UNSW SRT and renamed Sunswift, under team leader Byron Kennedy. A new motor and controller, roll cage, chassis and batteries were added. Sunswift I then went on to race in the 1996 World Solar Challenge. The car was still a competitive entry despite its age, placing 9th out of over 46 entries. The experience gained from racing Sunswift I inspired the development of Sunswift II starting in 1997.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sunswift/albums/72157644706804707/with/14424253878
Sunswift finished 9th out of 46 entries. This was the University's first entry in a solar car event amongst the prestigious and competitive entries from Honda Motors Corporation, the Swiss entry from Biel, and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
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