Vocational Training Council (VTC) Solar Car Team has achieved a historic milestone! Our solar-powered electric vehicle, SOPHIE 8x, designed and built by the IVE Engineering Discipline’s VTC Solar Car Team, conquered 3,000 kilometers of Australian desert and wilderness in the World Solar Challenge 2025. The team clinched first place in the highly competitive Cruiser Class, surpassing university teams from the University of Minnesota, the University of New South Wales, and Italy’s University of Bologna, bringing immense pride to Hong Kong and VTC on the global stage.

VTC Solar Car Team demonstrated exceptional collaboration and creativity throughout the competition. We skillfully applied new energy concepts from their coursework, showcasing the innovation and technical prowess of Hong Kong’s youth.

IVE Engineering Discipline has long championed solar vehicle research, encouraging students to explore the potential of renewable energy. This victory highlights VTC’s mission to blend vocational education with cutting-edge industry needs, producing professionals equipped with practical, real-world skills.

SOPHIE 8x combines practicality with innovation, mastering a 3,000-kilometer desert journey

World Solar Challenge is one of the world’s most prestigious solar car races. In 2025, 34 teams from over a dozen countries, including Australia, Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, and South Korea, competed across three categories. Over six days, teams traversed Australia from north to south, covering 3,000 kilometers through deserts and wilderness. We faced extreme temperature swings, unpredictable weather, and grueling conditions, testing their technical expertise, teamwork, and resilience.

In the Cruiser Class, which prioritizes energy efficiency and practical design for sustainable transportation, VTC Solar Car Team excelled among eight competitors, with six completing the race. The team showcased remarkable professionalism and teamwork, navigating desert roads, charging SOPHIE 8x during the day, and fine-tuning strategies and maintenance at night. The efforts of team culminated in a triumphant victory.

Since the project of SOPHIE founding in 2009, VTC Solar Car Team has competed in World Solar Challenge six times. Strong connections with alumni, who share valuable insights, combined with collaborative research between the IVE Engineering Discipline and industry partners, have driven continuous improvements to SOPHIE 8x. Facing the challenges of Australia’s winter, with shorter daylight hours and limited battery capacity, the team developed a new drive motor system using third-generation SiC (silicon carbide) semiconductor technology. This innovation reduced the vehicle’s weight, boosted energy conversion efficiency, and extended its range, showcasing the students’ ability to turn theoretical knowledge into practical solutions.

Held every two years, World Solar Challenge brings together solar vehicles from universities, corporations, and organizations worldwide for a high-stakes technical competition. Top engineering students from institutions like the University of Michigan, Seoul National University, and Tokai University participate, making VTC team’s victory a remarkable achievement.