Solis will race two vehicles at once for the first time

Cluj24's report, with video and photos, covers 18 May 2026 at UTCN HUB in Cluj-Napoca, when Solis UTCN officially presented the two solar vehicles it would race at the iLumen European Solar Challenge in Belgium. Partners, supporters and guests from the university and from business attended the event.

“Australia is an unknown. However well you prepare, something unexpected always comes up and you have to sort it out on the spot.”

A Solis UTCN team member

The team showed the racing vehicle Hyperion Origin and a new two-seat prototype for the Cruiser class, meant to show how solar racing technology can serve everyday mobility. Cătălin, a coordinator in the communication department, called it the most important event of the year. Cluj24 notes that Solis would race two student-built vehicles at the same competition for the first time, against about 30 university teams.

Team members explained the difference between the two: the Challenger is built for the best time on the circuit, while the Cruiser, with two seats and storage, brings racing technology closer to ordinary people. Cluj24 lists Hyperion Origin's figures: 6 square metres of solar panels, a 3 kWh battery, up to 300 km of range and a tested top speed of 120 km/h.

The report repeats that Hyperion Origin covered about 3,000 km in Australia in six days on solar power alone. The official result was 18th of 26 in the Challenger class, with Port Augusta, about 2,700 km from Darwin, the last control stop reached. A team member describes Australia as an unknown, where something unexpected always comes up, however well you prepare.