Our Crowdfunding Groups
Striving for a more sustainable and greener future, CalSol is a team of undergraduate students who design, build, test, and race high-speed, road-legal, fully solar-powered vehicles. Historically composed of over 100 students from a variety of disciplines, we provide our members with hands-on experience in engineering, project management, supply chain interactions, teamwork, problem-solving, and more.
We’ve built a team that welcomes students from all backgrounds and experience levels. This year, we’ve seen the highest turnout of new members in years: more than 150 new students have joined the team in the past few weeks. We’re eager to introduce them to the world of cutting-edge solar and renewable energy technology.
Excalibur and the team at FSGP (2024)
We have successfully built ten generations of racing vehicles, and are currently in the process of laying out the design and foundations of our 11th generation vehicle. Excalibur, our 10th generation vehicle, debuted this summer at Formula Sun Grand Prix. We placed 5th out of 24 teams, and had the fastest lap of 4:21.414 with an average speed of 43.4 mph. Tachyon, our 9th generation vehicle, has had a long and successful career. We’ve raced Tachyon at the 2019 Circuit of the Americas race in Austin, Texas, finishing second two years in a row. In the 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the world’s most prestigious international solar car race, Tachyon placed 13th. Last summer, we raced Zephyr (our 8th generation vehicle) in the Formula Sun Grand Prix and the American Solar Challenge, placing 4th in both.
Due to the multitude of university-related transportation issues that we have been facing since last Spring, the team struggled to travel to Richmond Field Station, where we are building Excalibur, our 10th generation vehicle. Still, we found ways to spend almost all weekends and many weekdays in the summer to have Excalibur road ready (thanks to all our motivated and committed members!). However, we need your help.
Currently, we are crowdfunding to cover the cost to implement revisions on Excalibur and to start building our 11th generation vehicle. Excalibur is said to be the fastest and most efficient vehicle our team has built since its conception with a unique mono-chassis and carbon fiber shell. Our $10K goal will primarily go towards paying for a new battery pack for Excalibur as well as molds and solar cells for our 11th generation vehicle. With your contribution, we can provide more opportunities for members to tackle hands-on design and manufacturing to continue our legacy of success. Whether or not we fall short of our goal or surpass it, all money raised will contribute to our car's development; our goal of $10,000 represents only a fraction of the total cost of vehicle production.
Testing the Dynamics of Excalibur
Will you make a tax-deductible donation today to support CalSol and make it all possible? Your donation will contribute to revision of Excalibur and our 11th generation vehicle, which will aid the development of solar and renewable energy technology and the education of brilliant engineers.
This budget provides a rough estimate only and actual expenditures may vary.
Expenses of Excalibur
Your contribution means a lot to us and our goal for a better future.
Feel free to contact us on our email or social media platforms:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @BerkeleyCalsol
Email: calsol-me@berkeley.edu
Thank you and Go Bears!
Get a set of customised CalSol Wallpapers for your phone, tablet and PC detailing our past cars and fun takes on the team's creative ideas!
Receive a digital scrapbook with CalSol memories!
Receive a personalized shoutout from the team on our social media platforms!
Running entirely on solar power is no joke, but our solar cells are principal to our success. Donate, and your name can now be on one!
Have your name featured on the CalSol website for all our viewers and sponsors to see! And get featured on our social media.
Watch a clip of our fastest lap of 4:21.414 at FSGP from the driver's POV!
We know our supporters are located all over the country and world, so we want to give you a special thanks without you having to be at Berkeley. With this level you will either get to tour our Richmond workstation (if you're in the area) or get a video filmed from our team at our workshop as a special thank you for being such an awesome donor.
Join CalSol at Formula Sun Grand Prix. You will be able to observe and experience the work that happens at the Pit during our race.
You will get a chance to join CalSol's crew in Bowling Green, Kentucky throughout the week of race.
