A New Technique for Soldering Solar Cells


General, Solar

As we refine SOCKEYE for the 2024 Solar Car Challenge, the solar panel subteam has been experimenting with new, potentially more effective soldering strategies. The use of our sponsor, Maxeon Sunpower’s solar cells is vital to the team, as they produce the industry-leading super-efficient silicon cells that make up the heart of the car. Throughout […]

February 13, 2024

The Last Stretch: Strategy


Featured, General, Solar

Energy management for solar car racing is critical. For our upcoming endurance test at PACCAR Technical Center, we want to travel as far as possible in roughly 7 and a half hours. To travel as efficiently as possible, we must make precise decisions on how fast to drive the car. The power needed to overcome […]

July 21, 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

Race Day Three


Electrical System, Featured, Solar, Texas

Going into Race Day three, we had a significant lead, filling the team with excitement and a tad of apprehension. The previous day we had set a new day lap record of 227 breaking the record we had set just the day before. Expecting the highest temperatures of the entire race, with temperatures reaching 111°F […]

July 19, 2022

Race Day One


Electrical System, Featured, General, Solar, Texas

As we arrived at the track at 6:15 AM, the team was filled with excitement. With more than two years of work put into the car, everyone sprang into action… for about 2 minutes: we were quickly notified that we were only allowed to interact with our vehicle after 6:30 AM. The day began like […]

July 17, 2022

Scrutineering Day Two


Featured, General, Solar, Texas

With scrutineering complete for the team and all our drivers approved for the race, it’s safe to say that stress levels are lower than before. Nonetheless, there is much more to do. Solar testing and practice driver swaps will prepare everyone for the race to come. After this, the team provided support to other teams […]

July 15, 2022

Touchdown in Dallas, TX


Featured, General, Solar, Texas

The RAHS Green Energy Team met bright and early at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on July 12th, 2022, ready to begin the journey to Texas for the National Solar Car Challenge. The team arrived in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas that afternoon, and spent the day unpacking and getting settled in.  The next morning, the team woke […]

July 14, 2022

June Team Updates


Electrical System, Featured, General, Solar, Texas

With the Solar Car Challenge growing closer by the day, the RAHS Green Energy Team is working hard to complete some of the biggest projects of the season; everyone is busy with something. The list of tasks we need to complete ranges from solar panel construction all the way to motor controller testing. One of […]

June 13, 2022