Hyperion Origin and a new Cruiser will represent Romania in Belgium

Radio România's news site, citing the AGERPRES news agency, reports that two solar vehicles built by students of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca will represent Romania at the iLumen European Solar Challenge in Belgium. The race brings together about 30 university teams, most of them from Europe, all working on efficient electric vehicles powered by the sun.

The two prototypes race in different categories. Hyperion Origin is the racing vehicle; the Cruiser, which the article does not yet call by its name, Voyager Origin, is a two-seater meant for everyday use. Hyperion Origin took part in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia in 2025. It carries six square metres of solar panels and a 3 kWh battery, with up to 300 km of range and a tested top speed of 120 km/h.

The article repeats the claim that last year Hyperion Origin covered about 3,000 km of Australia, north to south, in six days on solar energy alone. That is not what happened: the vehicle finished 18th of 26 in the Challenger class and last reached the Port Augusta control stop, about 2,700 km from Darwin. The station also calls this UTCN's first iESC, but Solis had raced at Zolder before, most recently in 2024.