Solar technology company LONGi has partnered with Belgium’s Innoptus Solar Team and the Netherlands’ Delft Solar Team for the 2026 Elektrek American Solar Challenge (ASC), expanding its efforts to validate high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) technologies through one of North America’s leading solar-powered endurance competitions.
The 2026 American Solar Challenge will be held from July 25 to August 1, with participating teams travelling from Minnesota to Texas, following much of the historic Route 66 corridor. Unlike traditional racing events, the competition measures success based on the cumulative distance covered over eight days, requiring teams to optimise energy management, route planning and vehicle performance under changing weather and terrain conditions.
The partnership builds on LONGi’s collaboration with Belgium’s Innoptus Solar Team during the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC). For the 2026 season, the company has expanded its technical collaboration to include both Innoptus Solar Team and Delft Solar Team, which finished among the top three at the 2025 BWSC and are the only two European teams competing in this year’s American Solar Challenge.
LONGi said the collaboration is intended to accelerate innovation in photovoltaic technology by testing high-efficiency solar solutions under demanding real-world operating conditions.
To support the teams, the company is supplying customised Back Contact (BC) photovoltaic technology tailored for solar racing applications. Innoptus Solar Team will use LONGi’s high-efficiency BC flexible modules designed for curved, lightweight solar race cars, while Delft Solar Team will integrate the company’s high-efficiency BC solar cell strings into its vehicle’s power system.
According to LONGi, photovoltaic systems are the sole direct energy source for solar race cars, making conversion efficiency, lightweight design and operational reliability essential for maximising vehicle performance, aerodynamics and energy management throughout the endurance challenge.
The company noted that success in the competition depends not only on advanced photovoltaic technology but also on effective energy management, route optimisation and strategic driving decisions based on changing sunlight conditions, weather patterns and terrain. Close collaboration between drivers, engineers and technology partners also plays a critical role in improving vehicle efficiency and extending driving range.
LONGi said it views solar motorsport as more than a sponsorship opportunity, describing it as an innovation platform where advanced photovoltaic technologies can be validated, refined and further developed before being applied to broader commercial solar applications.
The company added that insights gained through collaboration with engineers, researchers and solar racing teams will support the continued development of high-efficiency photovoltaic technologies and strengthen innovation across the renewable energy sector.
LONGi reaffirmed its commitment to advancing photovoltaic innovation and fostering collaboration across the global energy ecosystem to accelerate the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
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