Our Cars
Illini Solar Car
Argo
The first solar car at the University of Illinois since 1997. Argo was designed and built over the course of three years (2014-2017) and, in October of 2017, entered its first race, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge . There, Argo drove over 1000km powered entirely by the sun. Argo has an Illinois license plate and is entirely road-legal!
In 2018, Argo placed 7th at the American Solar Challenge.
Technical Facts
- 1 Carbon Fiber Panel Chassis
- 2 DC direct drive motors in the front wheels
- 5 fairings
- 6 square meters of solar array
- 224 kg unloaded weight
- 420 Lithium-Ion batteries
Brizo
ISC's second generation solar electric vehicle, Brizo was built over the course of three years (2018-2021). It features an entirely new shell design from our first car, Argo, and is sleeker, lighter, and more efficient.
Brizo debuted the 2021 American Solar Challenge, driving almost 1000 miles along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. This was Illini Solar Car's best race thus far. Brizo placed 3rd place in the Formula Sun Grand Prix qualifier race, and 4th on the road.
Technical Facts
Brizo shares many design similarities with Argo, only in a revised bullet shape instead of the first-generation vehicle's catamaran :
- 1 Carbon Fiber Panel Chassis
- 1 Rear-Wheel Two-Coil DC Motor
- 4 Square Meters of Silicon Solar Cells
- 192 kg Without Driver
- 420 Lithium Ion Batteries
Calypso
Our third-generation solar electric vehicle and first three-wheeled solar car.
Calypso's design began in the Spring of 2022 with manufacturing beginning that summer. She was unveiled in the Fall of 2023 and debuted in the 2024 American Solar Challenge. Calypso raced again in the 2025 Formula Sun Grand Prix.
Technical Facts
Despite also being a bullet shape, Calypso's design philosophy differs greatly from Brizo's, featuring many differences:
- 1 Carbon Fiber Monocoque
- 1 rear-wheel brushless DC motor
- 4 fairings
- 4 square meters of solar array
- 226 kg unloaded weight
- 420 Lithium-Ion batteries
Delos
Delos is Illinois' fourth-generation solar electric vehicle and our team's first catamaran since Argo. It features a return to the six-square meter array that was absent on Brizo and Calypso, as well as various other upgrades.
Design and manufacturing of Delos was completed between 2024 and 2026, and the car raced in the 2026 American Solar Challenge.
Technical Facts
While being a catamaran, Delos does share many similarities with it's predecessor, Calypso:
- 1 Carbon Fiber Monochassis
- 1 DC brushless motor on the rear right wheel
- 4 fairings
- 6 square meters of solar array
- 250 kg unloaded weight
- 288 Lithium-Ion batteries