Kyungil University-Led Joint Team Completes Adventure Category at World Solar Challenge in Australia

A joint team from Kyungil University (President Jung Hyuntae), Seoul National University, and Sookmyung Women's University successfully completed the Adventure category of the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), held in Australia from August 24 to 31, 2025, with their solar car "PADO."

The BWSC is the world's most prestigious eco-friendly mobility technology competition, where teams cross 3,000 kilometers from Darwin in northern Australia to Adelaide in the south in single-seat solar vehicles, testing driving performance and durability.

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This year, 34 teams from around the world participated in fierce competition, with two teams representing South Korea.

The university alliance team consisted of a total of 20 members: 17 students (8 from Kyungil University, 6 from Seoul National University, and 3 from Sookmyung Women's University) and 3 professors.

Students from the Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Kyungil University played a central role in the team, handling vehicle production and testing, as well as on-site driving, maintenance, and operational support. Accompanying students from the Department of Media Creator documented the entire competition on video, supporting the team's activities.

This year's competition was held in winter for the first time, resulting in harsher conditions than ever before, including strong winds, heavy rain, and limited sunlight.

In addition, the team faced multiple crises, such as a fire in the vehicle's motor controller and tire damage.

Notably, even in a harrowing moment when the vehicle nearly overturned due to strong winds caused by a large oncoming road train, driver Kim Jinseop (Mechanical Automotive, 4th year) remained calm and steered the team out of danger. Despite poor visibility due to severe weather, Lee Donghyeong (Mechanical Automotive, 4th year) held onto the wheel with determination, leading the team to the finish.

After a long struggle across the vast Australian desert, the moment the team crossed the finish line amid tension and exhaustion, all the hardships they had endured turned into a profound sense of accomplishment.

"PADO" demonstrated the technical potential of solar energy by traveling over 1,000 kilometers powered solely by solar energy, as if responding to the students' perseverance and determination.

Kang Woojong, head of the MOBIX Project Group at the RISE Business Headquarters, and Kim Soyoung, head of the ACE Project Group at Kyungil University, said, "This competition was a living classroom where theories learned in lectures were verified in real engineering settings. The experience and data gained by completing the race in such harsh conditions will serve as the foundation for developing even more advanced vehicles and preparing for future competitions."

President Jung Hyuntae stated, "This project showcased Kyungil University's capabilities and potential to the world. We will actively support our students so they can play a leading role in eco-friendly mobility and future technology fields."

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