Marks, a retired physics teacher, started the challenge in 1993 to motivate students in science and engineering. At that time, electric cars were rare. But they have since become more efficient and affordable. With help from government green energy initiatives, electric vehicles are even projected to outsell gasoline-powered cars by 2050.

Marks’ program has grown as well. The Solar Car Challenge now includes 261 teams in 39 states, in addition to Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Spain and Singapore. “We’re spinning dreams for these kids,” he said.

This year, he expects 200,000 people will come out to watch the high schoolers drive their solar vehicles across the southwestern U.S. — despite projected triple-digit temperatures.

An East Indian high school student sits in the middle of a metallic frame as other students work around him. — Raghav Ranga (center), a member of the Palo Alto High School team competing in the 30th Solar Car Challenge, tests out the placement of the steering wheel in the solar car in Palo Alto on July 6, 2023. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)

“It’s a very serious project,” said Rupa Chaturvedi, the Palo Alto team’s program director. “It’s putting a human being in the car and, most likely, a 16-year-old on the freeway, right?”

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Bay Area Students Enter 1,400-Mile Solar Car Challenge Across the Country