Innoptus and LONGi unveil “Infinite Apollo” solar race car with BC cell and VIPV tech for world’s toughest solar race

In a bold step toward redefining the edge of photovoltaic performance, we have partnered with the Belgian world-champion Innoptus Solar Team to bring next-generation solar innovation to the race track. At an unveiling in Belgium in May, both teams presented “Infinite Apollo,” a solar race car powered by LONGi’s advanced back-contact (BC) cell technology and flexible VIPV (vehicle-integrated photovoltaics) solutions. Their shared mission: to conquer the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) and prove the capabilities of ultra-efficient, highly reliable solar power under extreme real-world conditions.

Record-setting teams collaborate to take solar from rooftops to racetracks

Innoptus Solar Team has earned global recognition as a dominant force in solar car racing. With a legacy of wins stretching back to 2002 and a 780-kilometer achievement on the first day of the 2023 BWSC, the team represents the cutting edge of solar mobility. Their cars are designed for peak energy efficiency, pushing every watt to the limit in a race spanning 3,000 kilometers across Australia.

LONGi brings its own record-setting legacy to the table. We currently hold two world records in both monocrystalline and crystalline silicon–perovskite tandem cell efficiency. Our BC technology is already leading industrial trends, and now we enter the world of solar mobility with a mission to validate its performance in the most demanding conditions.

“Innoptus Solar Team is a highly passionate, challenge-embracing, and goal-oriented group,” said Zhang Haimeng, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of LONGi. “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.”

BC technology delivers peak efficiency, flexible design, and race-ready durability

The solar car challenge is no ordinary test. With cars traveling from Darwin to Adelaide across rugged terrain and volatile weather, the BWSC pushes technology far beyond standard lab performance. For a solar panel to succeed here, it must endure high vibration, heat fluctuations, and curved aerodynamic surfaces - without sacrificing output.

This is where LONGi’s back-contact cells excel. With zero front-side metallization, BC cells deliver high conversion efficiency, excellent low-light response, and improved aesthetics for seamless vehicle integration. Powered by TaiRay silicon wafers and optimized flexible packaging, these cells conform to the curved body of the race car while minimizing aerodynamic drag.

“Solar-powered racing cars are the ultimate test for PV technology,” said Wout Rubbrecht, Team Leader of Innoptus Solar Team. “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.”

Solar meets speed: next-gen race car Infinite Apollo debuts with LONGi modules

“Infinite Apollo” is the 11th-generation solar car from the Innoptus team, and the first to integrate LONGi’s VIPV solutions. The vehicle will be powered exclusively by solar energy across the BWSC route, covering over 3,000 kilometers in just six days. The collaboration with LONGi represents the first time the team has adopted a new PV partner in this way—underscoring their commitment to performance gains made possible through BC technology.

As exclusive solar partner for the 2025 race, we deliver more than just modules. The partnership is an exchange of engineering excellence and innovation, shaping how solar can serve the mobility sector and how technological breakthroughs transition from record labs to real roads.

“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.”

Looking ahead: solar racing as a testbed for future applications

This collaboration is a blueprint for innovation. By validating its BC technology in such extreme, high-performance environments, we positions ourselves to lead in both terrestrial solar energy and emerging applications such as transportation, infrastructure, and mobile power.

For LONGi and Innoptus, the road to Adelaide is just the beginning. And it will start in August 2025. If you want to accompany this fantastic team on their journey, follow them here or check out our LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/longi-solar-europe/