Vision
Founded in 2021, Dalhousie Solar Car Team (DalSol) designs, builds and races a solar-powered electric vehicle. Our multidisciplinary group is comprised of students from all fields of Engineering and Computer Science who share a passion for climate solutions.
The Formula Sun Grand Prix is an annual closed-track event that attracts student teams from post-secondary institutions across North America. Racing at FSGP has been our dream since day 1 and with hard work, effort and perseverance, our solar car NOVA made its debut in 2023!
Today, we have successfully competed in two races (FSGP 2023 and 2024) with remarkable performances in both. Our next goal is to build a whole new car from the ground up to participate in the American Solar Challenge, a bi-annual endurance rally across several states in the US. Please check out our Updates tab for details regarding our new project cycle.
To see what we worked on last year, you can visit our previous page here.
Story
Our mission is to produce doers of electric vehicle development and to excite the public about sustainable transportation and promote the practicality of renewable energy.
Solar car team alumni around the world are highly desired by tech companies, manufacturing, consulting, and automotive giants due to sheer exposure and depths of experience they gain from building a solar car and working in a multidisciplinary group with time and financial constraints.
Designing and building a solar car requires a wide range of real-life engineering skills, both technical and non-technical. Since the beginning, the team has evolved as a unique group of its own that allows students to extend their education far beyond traditional classroom learning.
Strategy
Over the past 3 years, 100+ members have contributed to our project. Everyone brings something to the table, and we believe that it is the unique backgrounds and talents that makes DalSol special.
Our team is incredibly proud to have represented Atlantic Canada during FSGP 2023 in Topeka, Kansas. Even with the smallest race crew there, we achieved 3rd overall in Scrutineering and 4th in the SOV (single-occupant vehicle) class after completing 135 laps, totaling over 543 kilometers, ultimately exceeding our own expectations. We also got awarded “Best New Team in Scrutineering”!
This past summer, we came back for another round of solar racing at FSGP 2024. In Bowling Green, Kentucky, we finished Scrutineering 2nd overall of all 32 teams there, once again, earning a starting position in the top three. With the skills and knowledge accumulated from both competitions, we are excited to design, build and race our next EV!
However, we could not have done it alone. Sponsors are integral to our success; without support from the community, this accomplishment would not be possible. Monetary contributions, in-kind donations, expertise and advice all helped us reach significant milestones and makes this project all it is worth!
Impact
Our first ever race at FSGP 2023 was a success and showed what Dalhousie students can achieve. FSGP 2024 further demonstrated that hard work and perseverance earns results. In the next two years, the team has a lot to endeavour, but we are looking forward to bringing these ideas to life! An essential part would be to manufacture and assemble our chassis and composite aeroshell. These will serve as the structural components upon which other subsystems will be added. Another one of the main goals includes building a new solar array, allowing for greater efficiency and a competitive edge to more effectively charge our battery pack. Any funding will be used to cover parts and materials for these developments, as well as testing of the car.
Although the competition is in 2026, staying on track and preparing is crucial to ensure that we meet key milestones and deadlines. Race registration for both FSGP and ASC make up a significant portion of project expenses, as well as associated travel expenses and logistics (i.e., food, accommodations, team t-shirts, etc.). You can always find us hosting fundraisers like our bake sales and pancake sales, skills workshops and outreach events, such as our Dal Solar Car Community Day in November 2024. As part of our vision, we aspire to connect with the community, spread the word about our mission and encourage those that are interested in seeing what we do!
We are counting on your support to help make DalSol’s journey long-lasting so that we can pave the way for students that share the mindset of building solar-powered EVs for a better future. With your help and our set of experiences so far, we can make this a reality for generations to come.
Your contribution will be the cornerstone to getting us ready for FSGP and ASC 2026. Join the journey to represent Atlantic Canada’s Solar Electric Vehicle Student Team.
To stay up to date on our work, please follow along on our Instagram and LinkedIn!
Our general meetings are every Wednesday @ 7pm in the Heavy Prototyping Lab, Emera IDEA Building on Sexton Campus. Sub-team work sessions occur ad-hoc basis throughout the week. Please feel free to come visit our shop and see our work!
If you would like more information about this campaign, please reach out to Clare MacDermott at clare.macdermott@dal.ca.
To mail a cheque, please send it to the Office of Advancement, 6389 Coburg Road, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS B3H 2A5.
