A Crucible of Innovation: Reflections on the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge

As I look back on the 2024 Sasol Solar Challenge , which wrapped up in September, I’m filled with pride and awe at the scale of innovation we witnessed. This event, which brings together teams from around the world, is far more than a solar car Challenge. It’s a platform where students and engineers from all walks of life gather to push the boundaries of sustainable mobility, solve real-world challenges, and inspire each other to think bigger.

The energy and commitment these teams bring is palpable, and their innovations are nothing short of extraordinary. Take Onda Solare - Italian Team , for example. They took home our BMW South Africa Innovation Award this year with a design that redefines durability and efficiency. They introduced a carbon fibre rear axle that looked like a solid structure but was actually independently functional and brushless. Built to handle the rugged terrain of South Africa, this axle was as much a marvel of durability as it was a triumph of precision engineering—a solution uniquely adapted for the challenges of the SSC.

Or consider Solar Team Twente with their water-cooled electric motor, an innovation that, as far as we know, is a world first. Their cooling system enabled them to maintain peak efficiency in intense conditions. It’s this kind of forward-thinking that the SSC is all about: taking an idea, building on it, and transforming it into something that can power sustainable mobility solutions for the future.

Our 2024 champions, Innoptus Solar Team , demonstrated a different kind of ingenuity. Their vehicle used aerodynamics to its fullest potential, with a deployable fin designed to harness crosswinds. It’s an incredible example of using environmental forces to their advantage, rather than seeing them as obstacles. This innovation embodies the mindset that defines the SSC—a relentless drive to turn challenges into opportunities.

Brunel Solar Team brought yet another inspiring innovation with a custom-built engine motor crafted specifically for the SSC and the harsh gradient changes of this year's route. This approach pushed their vehicle’s potential performance to new heights and showed us all how tailoring technology to a specific purpose can yield groundbreaking results.

One of the things I love most about the SSC is that innovation isn’t limited to the big-budget teams. Vuyane Ngwenya and Team #EVNXT, competing on a significantly smaller budget, embodied the spirit of resourcefulness. They took limited resources and created something truly competitive, proving that world-class innovation can thrive in any environment. Their journey is a reminder that the true power of innovation often comes from thinking creatively and working within constraints.

Closer to home, Team TUT introduced a brilliant innovation with variable steering in their vehicle, allowing it to adapt to driver inputs and creating a more stable high speed steering setup. This innovation not only added flexibility and control but also underscored how South African teams are bringing their own unique perspective to the challenge.

These examples are just a selection of the innovations we saw during the 2024 challenge. Every vehicle, every team, every solution tells a story of adaptability, resilience, and collaboration. Beyond the engineering, what inspires me most is the mentality these teams bring—their determination to tackle challenges head-on and their commitment to sustainable mobility.

At the Sasol Solar Challenge, we don’t just see cutting-edge technology. We see a community of problem-solvers who remind us that innovation is as much about mindset as it is about mechanics. This event, every two years, reaffirms for me the power of collaboration, ingenuity, and the drive to make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and cheered us on. Together, we’re not only creating solutions for today but setting a course for a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable tomorrow.

Here’s to the spirit of innovation, and to the incredible journey we’re all on together.

Rob Walker

Director, Sasol Solar Challenge

Sasol BMW South Africa