Last Updated on August 4, 2026 6:31 pm
BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University's solar vehicle racing team, Team Sunergy, earned a first-place finish in the multi-occupant vehicle (MOV) category at the 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC). Competing against an international field, the team secured its spot in the cross-country road race with a second-place finish in the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix.
Traveling along Highway 66 from Minneapolis to Amarillo, Texas, in a significant test of Autumn, Team Sunergy demonstrated it could build an improved two-person race cruiser from the wheels up — once again employing the teamwork, strategy and endurance needed to overcome challenges on the long road to the podium.
Autumn, a 660-pound vehicle built of carbon fiber, covered nearly 1,830 miles with an average speed of 31.7 mph in the ASC, held July 25–Aug 1.
The team's energy efficiency score was well above its competitors, and Team Sunergy also received the MOV Practicality Award for a vehicle most comparable to a standard car. ASC contestants were scored on distance completed, efficiency metrics and practicality.
Visit sunergy.appstate.edu to learn more about App State's Team Sunergy.
