PVTIME – The 2026 American Solar Challenge came to a close after an eight-day, cross-continental endurance race across the United States. Powered by LONGi back-contact photovoltaic technology, the Innoptus Solar Team from Belgium and the Delft Solar Team from the Netherlands claimed first and second place respectively, standing out among the many other elite teams from around the world. As one of the world’s most prestigious solar racing events, the American Solar Challenge imposes extreme requirements on vehicle energy systems, aerodynamic design, and operational strategies, with its lengthy routes, complex terrains, and variable climatic conditions.
Innoptus Solar Team
Delft Solar Team
Starting in Minnesota on 25 July, the race followed Route 66 southbound to its final destination in Texas. The event is ranked by total driving distance accumulated over eight days and features diverse landforms and multiple climate zones. Drastic fluctuations in temperature and sunlight pose stringent tests of energy management, strategic scheduling and system reliability. The Innoptus Solar Team secured the championship with a total mileage of 4,298.9 kilometres, marking the first European victory in the event’s history. The Delft Solar Team achieved second place with a recorded distance of 4,080.5 kilometres.
Both teams adopted LONGi BC technology as their core energy supply solution, delivering stable power output and high conversion efficiency throughout the rigorous competition. This represents an upgrade in LONGi’s involvement in professional solar racing ecosystems year on year, having first partnered with the Innoptus Solar Team for the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. In 2026, the company expanded its technical cooperation to cover both elite European teams, who had previously achieved a top-three global result at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, and were the only two European participants in the 2026 American Solar Challenge.
LONGi’s collaboration with racing teams is focused exclusively on technical co-development rather than financial support. With a maximum solar panel exposure area of just six square metres on racing vehicles, photovoltaic systems must meet superior standards of conversion efficiency, lightweight design, flexible adaptation and long-distance operational reliability compared to conventional applications. The customised flexible modules and high-efficiency cell solutions developed for the two teams demonstrate the adaptability and reliable performance of LONGi BC technology in extreme competitive conditions.
LONGi uses high-standard solar racing competitions as rigorous real-world testing scenarios for its products. The company aims to validate the performance of its BC products in extreme operational environments and to advance the practical application of solar technology by working with leading global engineering teams on joint innovations.
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