The Maiden Voyage – PACCAR Testing 07/18/2023


Featured, General

After learning the unfortunate news that we would not participate in the Solar Car Challenge, Larsen Matthew Mendoza summed up our emotions: “It’s upsetting, it’s really upsetting, but it’s not about the destination but the journey.” So we persisted. Our focus shifted from the cross-country open-road challenge from Texas to California to an endurance challenge […]

July 21, 2023

July Update: A New Challenge


Featured, General, Outreach, Texas

Just before the end of the school year, we received some unfortunate news.  During the review of the insurance arranged by Solar Car Challenge (SCC) organizers, Highline Public Schools’ risk managers noticed a crucial exception: moving vehicles were not covered outside the Texas Motor Speedway, i.e., in our 1,200-mile cross country trip, student drivers would […]

July 13, 2023

Layup Process


Aerodynamics, Featured, General, Structures

During the last few months, the team has been working hard on preparing for our carbon fiber layup to construct the car’s aerodynamic shell. With the mold in its final state, we began the layup process. In doing so, we will have a one-piece shell which will allow for better aerodynamics and a smoother surface. […]

May 23, 2023

Designing the Battery Holders


Electrical System, Featured, General

Over the past few weeks, the electrical team has been working towards completing the solar car’s battery cell array. With the lithium-ion batteries arriving, it has been time to design the battery holders. As opposed to last year, this year’s battery holders have been integrated with polycarbonate in one unit. Due to extensive iterations and […]

April 24, 2023

The Oven


Featured, General, Structures

Ninth grade RAHS students were challenged to write about an aviation community that they often interact with. For freshman Luca Umbelino, it’s the RAHS Green Energy Team! Read about his carbon fiber oven project below. The RAHS Green Energy Team is a student-led club that annually builds a solar powered car and races it across […]

April 3, 2023

Mold Making


Aerodynamics, Featured, General, Structures

The structural team has been working relentlessly to try and to meet the February “Go/No-Go ” deadline. With confidence, the team has decided to “GO” and continue our efforts with the 2023 design. This past month, parts were being ordered, and designs have been finalized. Janicki has donated their time and materials to help us […]

March 20, 2023

Hazel Valley Outreach Plan


Featured, General, Outreach, Solar

Students test their solar cars on the final day of testing/racing. Over the past month and a half, our outreach sub-team conducted a series of after-school educational activities with the 5th-grade students of Hazel Valley Elementary School. Through these presentations and hands-on activities, RAHS Green Energy Team (GET) members introduced students to the importance of […]

March 6, 2023

Solar Panel Update


Featured, General, Solar

With the Solar Car Challenge approaching rapidly, different subteams have been hard at work on separate projects that will eventually come together on our final car.  The solar sub-team in particular has been preparing to manufacture our solar array for the new car. We are still waiting on materials before we commence the soldering process, […]

February 20, 2023

Electrical Update


Electrical System, Featured, General

While the mechanical team has been hard at work getting components and designing the structure of the car, our electrical team has been working just as hard by designing the individual components of our electrical system and planning how they will all come together.  E-ink display OLED Display In working on our steering wheel, we […]

February 6, 2023

Construction Developments


Featured, General, Structures

As we look towards beginning the construction of our car, one of the things that we must make sure of is that the layout and size of the cockpit fit our drivers safely and is adequate for all systems necessary inside the car. This is accomplished through the construction of something called a “mockpit”  (model […]

January 23, 2023