This week, students will conduct final test drives at the Rose Bowl to prepare for the 631.7-mile race, which begins July 19 in Fort Worth, Texas. Teams will navigate terrain ranging from flatlands to rolling hills, with scheduled stops in Palestine, Round Rock, Fredericksburg, and San Angelo before finishing in Fort Stockton. Vehicle performance, mechanical challenges, and weather conditions can affect how many miles each team completes each day, and the team that accumulates the greatest total distance will be declared the winner.
Built by Students, Designed for Performance
Designed and constructed entirely by Poly Upper School students, Perihelion features a catamaran-shaped body and an underbody wind tunnel that improves aerodynamic efficiency. Students have spent months building, testing, and refining every aspect of the vehicle to maximize performance for the race, which will take place on major state highways.
The Perihelion solar car is engineered for efficiency and endurance, weighing approximately 750 pounds without a driver and stretching about 16 feet in length. Its surface is equipped with 468 solar cells that feed into a 5.1-kilowatt-hour battery system, allowing the vehicle to store and manage energy for extended travel.
In testing, the car has reached speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, demonstrating its capability to operate at highway speeds while relying on solar power.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The Polytechnic School Solar Car Team, part of the school’s Engineering Club, is entirely student-led, with students responsible for every stage of the project, from concept and design to fabrication, testing, and race strategy. For many students, the team is more than an extracurricular activity. They spend evenings, weekends, and school breaks troubleshooting challenges, refining the car, and building technical expertise. Faculty and parent advisors serve as mentors while encouraging students to solve problems together.
“What makes this team special is that it’s genuinely student-driven,” said Jeff Keltner, team advisor and a Poly parent of Ryan ’27 and Sean ’30. “The students take on complex, real-world engineering challenges—working within tough constraints, learning through failure, and iterating their way to solutions—and what they accomplish is, frankly, remarkable. It’s the kind of hands-on, collaborative, and creative experience that shapes the engineers and problem-solvers of the future.”
About the Solar Car Challenge
Established in 1993, the Solar Car Challenge is a national engineering competition that inspires high school students to design, build, and race roadworthy solar-powered vehicles. The program provides students with real-world engineering experience while promoting renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and hands-on STEM education.
Before the race begins, every team must successfully complete three days of rigorous scrutineering at Texas Motor Speedway. During the inspection process, officials evaluate each vehicle’s safety, mechanical systems, and race readiness before granting approval to compete.
Community Support
Reflecting Polytechnic School’s commitment to hands-on education, the school has made a significant investment in the Solar Car project alongside the generous support of industry and community partners, as well as individual donors.
About Polytechnic School
Founded in 1907, Polytechnic School is the first nonprofit independent school in Southern California. Located in Pasadena, Poly is a K–12 college preparatory school dedicated to developing the unique intellect, talents and character of each student. Through rigorous academics, exceptional teaching and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, Poly inspires students to think critically, pursue their passions, and lead lives of purpose.
To learn more about the Polytechnic School Solar Car, visit:
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