A new University of Texas at Arlington student organization is leading the charge in energy innovation by building a solar-battery hybrid race car to go head-to-head against teams from around the world in the collegiate solar car competition.
The Blaze Raycers consists of about 15 engineering students, but is open to all majors, said Chris Boyer, the Raycers' advisor and a director in UT Arlington's Resource and Energy Engineering program.
"We're excited to launch this initiative and empower students to push the boundaries of optimizing an energy system through collection, storage and consumption," Dr. Boyer said. "Our team is passionate about building the car and driving efficient use of energy sources."
The team is designing its first car and building it from scratch. The students plan to compete in the 2026 Formula Sun Grand Prix, a race held on a closed course, and the American Solar Challenge, a competition to design, build and drive solar-powered cars over a 1,500-2,000-mile course across multiple cities. These solar cars can reach a speed of up to 55 mph.
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"Our team's goal is to give members real-world, hands-on experience in engineering," said William Bourgeois, a resource and energy engineering major who serves as president and project manager of the Blaze Raycers. "Anyone can read a textbook and memorize formulas, but applying those concepts in a practical setting is a whole different skill. Through this experience, we're not just building a car; we're building a team legacy at UT Arlington."
He said the team's goal for next year is to finish in the top half of the field. The plan is to build a car that prioritizes reliability and efficiency over speed or weight. By doing so, Bourgeois said, the Blaze Raycers can position UTA as a leader in innovation, energy and engineering education.
Moises Garcia Ponce, a resource and energy engineering major and the operations lead and treasurer of the Raycers, said he never imagined he'd be building a race car from the ground up—or helping to launch such a forward-thinking organization.
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"I want to have fun taking on this engineering challenge," Ponce said. "It is a pleasure to work alongside great students and advisors to make this dream come to life. I feel honored to be a part of it."
During the design phase, Bourgeois said the team has restored an old terrain vehicle—now nicknamed E-Buggy—to explore suspension setups, braking systems and electric drivetrain integration. The students are also working on a solar-powered cart to gain insights into energy storage, microgrid design, system monitoring and solar array management.
"This process has been challenging, but the most important thing is that we are learning along the way," said Jordan Nalepka, a resource and energy engineering major and vice president of the Raycers. "By the time I graduate, I hope to have gained practical experience and learned lessons in problem-solving and overcoming design challenges."
Having hands-on experience building a car is invaluable as students graduate and look for jobs, said Ayofemi Asaolu, an aerospace engineering major and the aero lead for the team.
"I love building and learning about all things mechanical," Asaolu said. "This project has been more than I could dream."
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130thanniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over41,000, UTAis the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
