The Solar Spirit project started soon after the 2007 World Solar Challenge. At least 18 months of research and planning has focused on achieving maximum efficiencies for the innovative solar electric vehicle.
The dominant factors of a solar car performance are:
The Solar Spirit team is using space age Triangular Advanced Solar Cells (TASC triple junction Gallium Arsenide solar Cells from Spectrolab, a Boeing company). Each of the 26,348 TASC cells will be mounted on 60 + 1 (6 square meters) specially designed circuit boards (manufactured by Entech as part of their sponsorship). The circuit boards will be mounted on a lightweight aluminium frame (donated by Capral) made into a flat "Stalled" wing, which can be tilted for maximum power from the sun most of the time.
The chassis is made of aircraft grade carbon composite material. Cobham Aviation Services Australia has generously donated time and Aircraft quality "Fiberlam" material. The 3.6m x 8.3 meter bare chassis, mabe by Cobham, only weighs 18kg. The material is ten times the strength of steel of the same weight. The technology has enabled us to possibly have the lightest solar car ever designed for a World Solar Challenge.
The CSIRO Kit motor is 98% efficient, capable of driving the solar car at over 130 kilometres per hour, using only about 1600Watts of energy. (With the low drag, weight and good aerodynamics). The motor can be used as a generator when slowing down, to convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy and store it into the batteries. In fact, the braking / cruise control system is designed to use regen as much as possible, before the actual hydraulic brakes come on.

Build the Solar Spirit ready for training program starting in August 2009.
Complete with Telemetry data logging equipment, tilting array to get more power from the sun, and an extra seat used only for training purposes.
Capable to travel from Darwin to Adelaide at average of 100Km/Hr by the power of the sun.
| Kelly | Solar Spirit | |
| (LxWxH) 6m x 2m x 0.9m | Size | (LxWxH) 5m x 1.8m x 1.2m |
| 245 kgs | Mass | 180 kgs |
| Modified BP Saturn, max. 1200 watts | Solar Cells | Spectrolab Tasc Solar cells >26% 1610 watts |
| 27 Electronic Solar Optimisers | Array Tracking | Automated shadow control |
| 30Kg Lithium-Polymer, voltage 126V, 54Ah | Batteries | 25Kg Lithium-Ion 140V 52Ah |
| NGM, 3 Phase DC 12 Pole, 3.75 kW Axial Flux, Brushless, Permanent Magnet 94% Eff | Wheel Motor | CSIRO 3 Phase DC 40 Pole, 1.8 kW Axial Flux, Brushless, Permanent Magnet 97.4% Eff (Parts designed to suit Solar Spirit by Cobham) |
| Dunlop Solamax 2.25 x 16 | Tyres | Michelin 16" radial |
| Tritium Waveform Ultra High Efficiency | Motor Controller | Tritium Waveform Ultra High Efficiency |
| Carbon Fire on Nomex Honeycomb | Body | Fibre Glass with space age strengtheners |
| Balanced Hydraulic, lightweight | Brakes | Balanced Hydraulic, lightweight |
| 120+ km/h | Top Speed | 135+ km/h |