Global solar technology leader LONGi has officially entered into a strategic partnership with Belgium’s Innoptus Solar Team, unveiling their next-generation solar racing car “Infinite Apollo” at a ceremony held in Belgium on May 5. The vehicle, featuring breakthrough back-contact (BC) cell technology and flexible photovoltaic (PV) solutions, is set to compete in the prestigious Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) in August 2025.
This marks the first collaboration between the two parties in applying cutting-edge photovoltaic technology to high-performance solar vehicles, drawing widespread attention across the industry.
“Dual-Champion” Powers Cross-Border Innovation in Solar Mobility
Known as the “king of solar car racing,” the Innoptus Solar Team has been a dominant force since its founding in 2002. The team has achieved numerous international titles, including the BWSC World Championship, and its design philosophy is centered on “maximizing energy efficiency.” In the 2023 edition of BWSC, the team’s vehicle achieved an impressive range of 780 kilometers on the first day of the race, exemplifying their technological edge in solar-powered transportation.
As a global leader in solar innovation, LONGi continues to push the boundaries of photovoltaic efficiency. The company has repeatedly broken world records in mono-crystalline silicon and crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem cell efficiency. Recognized as a “dual-champion” in the two mainstream tracks of solar cell technology, LONGi currently holds the world record for crystalline silicon module efficiency and has been instrumental in advancing BC technology for next-generation applications.
As the exclusive designated solar partner for the Innoptus Solar Team at the 2025 BWSC, LONGi will provide comprehensive technological support to the team’s 11th-generation solar car. This includes supplying its high-efficiency BC cell technology and co-developing vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) flexible solutions to significantly boost the car’s power generation and reliability under the challenging race conditions.
“Solar-powered racing cars are the ultimate test for PV technology,” said Wout Rubbrecht, the team leader of Innoptus Solar Team. “Racing cars need to maintain efficient power generation under conditions of high-intensity vibration, extreme temperature differences, and curved body shapes. This poses almost stringent requirements for cell efficiency and reliability. LONGi not only has the highest cell conversion efficiency in the industry, but also its stronger reliability and flexible solution guarantee capabilities have given us the possibility of breaking through the limits.”
Advanced BC Technology to Withstand Harsh Racing Conditions
The BWSC, established in 1987 and held biennially, is the world’s most prestigious solar car race. Covering over 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Adelaide across the Australian outback, the race is a grueling test of energy efficiency, durability, and solar innovation.
To tackle this extreme environment, LONGi has equipped the Innoptus Solar Team with its advanced BC cell technology, which currently leads the crystalline silicon segment in mass production efficiency. Designed with a zero metal contact surface, the BC cells not only enhance module aesthetics but also deliver exceptional low-light response and high power generation, crucial for maintaining performance under varying conditions during the race.
The BC cells also benefit from LONGi’s TaiRay silicon wafer technology, enabling flexible packaging that conforms to the car’s aerodynamic body. This ensures optimal integration without compromising design or performance, delivering continuous and reliable green power throughout the race.
“Innoptus Solar Team is a highly passionate, challenge-embracing, and goal-oriented group. LONGi’s BC technology is inherently designed to break boundaries, and we firmly believe that our cooperation will bring stronger clean energy propulsion to solar racing cars,” said Zhang Haimeng, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of LONGi. “LONGi is committed to empowering every driver, innovator, and explorer with the power of technological innovation. We aim to let the surging solar energy drive every journey.”
“Innovation is the soul of LONGi,” said Li Zhenguo, Founder and President of LONGi. “We respect every innovation and have the courage to keep challenging ourselves. In the past, we have been dedicated to reaching the pinnacle in the photovoltaic field, pursuing excellence in improving efficiency and reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour. Looking to the future, we hope to further extend our innovative capabilities to explore more possibilities of ‘PV +’ and truly bring solar energy into the lives of every individual.”
With the partnership between LONGi and Innoptus Solar Team now underway, the launch of “Infinite Apollo” marks a new chapter in the application of solar innovation in high-performance transportation. The collaboration sets a precedent for how advanced PV technologies can be pushed to their limits and beyond, in pursuit of a cleaner, more efficient future.
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