Solar Car Challenge Event Update 2025-4
Significant Dates in June
June 1 - Deadline to send teams Proof of Liability Insurance
Email to: marks@solarcarchallenge.org (opens in new tab)
I encourage teams to reach out to local insurers or work with your school’s business office. Often, school districts include your solar car under an umbrella vehicle insurance policy.
Alternatively, teams have worked with the Frederickson Insurance Agency in Dallas to help secure general liability insurance.
The Philadelphia Insurance Company provides special event general liability coverage again this year.
- Premium: $300 per team
- No application needed — teams provide:
- Team / School name
- Mailing / billing address
- Contact person, phone number, email
- Number of solar cars
- Number of drivers
The policy covers general liability while on the grounds at Texas Motor Speedway.
Note: It excludes coverage for first or third party bodily injury or property damage caused by operating your solar car or other autos, including loading and unloading.
Discuss this exclusion with your team and parents.
Contact Melinda Carey at Frederikson Agency: melinda@fredandfred.com (opens in new tab)
The Solar Car Challenge receives no benefit from the use of this agency.
June 15 - Deadline to submit Digital copy of Team Scrapbook (Rule 3.9)
Send to: scrapbook@solarcarchallenge.org (opens in new tab)
Rule 3.9: Scrapbook
Teams must maintain a scrapbook documenting students working on all phases of the solar car project including planning, design, CAD, fundraising, building, and testing.
- Digital copy due June 15, 2025 in PDF format (Google docs not accepted)
- Hard copy due at Team Check-In
Scrapbook Sections
a. Section One: Students working on all project phases: planning, design, CAD, fundraising, building, and testing.
b. Section Two: Design and engineering decisions through narrative and photographs. This is the cornerstone of your project. Judges want to see documentation of engineering challenges and how you resolved them.
Judges understand decisions are limited by budget, resources, and time. Please explain these decisions in your scrapbook and oral presentation.
The digital scrapbook becomes property of the Solar Car Challenge Foundation and part of your official documentation.
Registration Packet Status
A team of judges and staff have reviewed registration packets. Some packets need additional information or completion.
Check the "Registration Status" link on the web page later this week to see if your team must provide additional information before Team Check-In.
Many teams failed to include the solar array list price—be sure your registration included this document!
Send supplemental documents to: marks@solarcarchallenge.org (opens in new tab)
Significant Date in July
July 1 - Deadline to send video of Team Oral Presentation
Send to: video@solarcarchallenge.org (opens in new tab) in mp4 format
Rule 3.10: Video Presentation
Teams shall prepare a video presentation describing their solar car project.
- Up to 8 minutes to give a full statement about the project.
- Graded on presentation completeness, engineering decisions, team participation, preparation, speaking without notes, use of visual aids, and digital scrapbook quality.
Teams will be awarded up to 25 miles based on video, oral presentation, scrapbook, and registration packet quality. Penalties during the event do not affect awarded miles. Points awarded after passing Scrutineering.
Grading Criteria
a. Did the video give a full statement about the project?
b. Did the team explain engineering decisions (e.g., battery placement, array design)?
c. Did the team show documentation supporting engineering decisions?
d. Did all team members participate (each must speak)?
e. Was the presentation well prepared and rehearsed?
f. Was the team able to speak without notes?
g. Did the team use visual aids?
h. Was the video sent in mp4 format?
Video Guidelines
a. The video should be an uninterrupted recording of the oral presentation, as if in front of a live panel of judges.
b. Multimedia is allowed if it would have been used in a live presentation.
Professional editing or visual effects will cause point deductions.