Kortrijk, Belgium – December 3, 2024 

Traxial welcomed members of the world-champion Innoptus Solar Team to our headquarters in Kortrijk, as part of the team’s national Solar Tour celebrating their historic victory at the SASOL Solar Challenge in South Africa.

Still celebrating their first ever victory, Team representatives Dries De Saegher (Teamleader), Ward Vanhulle (Electrical Engineer), and Jonas Vlamijnck (Head of Mechanical Systems) arrived with their groundbreaking solar car, “The Infinite“.

Record-Breaking Performance

The Innoptus Team made history at the SASOL Solar Challenge in South Africa (September 13-20, 2024), transforming their 2022 second-place finish into a commanding victory. Navigating over 4,000 kilometers of challenging terrain, these young engineering students from KU Leuven not only won the competition but also shattered the day-long distance record twice.

The eight-day endurance race—the longest in the team’s competition history—tested their skills in unprecedented ways. Unlike fixed-route competitions, the SASOL Challenge requires teams to maximize daily distance using only solar power, demanding both engineering excellence and strategic precision. Their triumph underscores the remarkable talent of these students, who spent 18 months designing, building, and perfecting “The Infinite” while balancing their regular university studies.

A Partnership Built on Innovation

The partnership between Traxial and the Innoptus Solar Team began in 2023, when Traxial decided to support the team’s preparations for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in the same year. As specialists in coreless axial flux motor technology, Traxial provided vital engineering consultancy for the team’s fourth-generation motor, access to specialized equipment and financial backing. The partnership evolved when renewed in June 2024, with Traxial focusing exclusively on technical support through knowledge sharing, testing capabilities and design review services.

Bridging Education and Industry

Traxial’s support reflects the company’s commitment to bridging education and industry.

“Initiatives like these are an excellent outside-the-box learning opportunity. As an R&D company, we’re the first to advocate the importance of continuously learning through collaborating in as many ways as possible,” says Marc Beulque, CEO at Traxial.

The partnership has also connected Traxial to an ecosystem of innovative Belgian companies, including Innoptus, Bo-Solutions, Stewal, and others who share a commitment to sustainable technology and supporting the next generation of engineers. Several Traxial team members were themselves once part of the Solar Team or similar initiatives.

The Solar Tour represents the Innoptus Solar team’s commitment to sharing their achievement with the partners and supporters who helped make their victory possible.

Since returning to Belgium, the team has been making strategic stops across the country, connecting with organizations that share their vision for sustainable technology and innovation.

For more information about the Innoptus Solar Team and their championship journey, visit www.solarteam.be

Get the technical data sheet of our latest axial flux motor, the AXF300-85s