The 17th Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), a premier solar car race, was held for the first time in the Australian winter this year, testing the energy efficiency of competing solar vehicles. Taiwan's Apollo Solar Car Team, with 27 years of history and led by Professor Ay Herchang from the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) Department of Mold and Die Engineering, successfully navigated the harsh conditions of strong winds, heavy rain, and hail. The team traveled from Darwin's Hidden Valley in the north to Adelaide in the south, completing the grueling transcontinental race and securing a fourth-place finish in the Cruiser Class.

The BWSC, which has been running for 17 years, serves as a crucial platform for solar car teams from around the world. The 2025 race, held in August, challenged the energy efficiency of the vehicles under winter conditions. A total of 37 teams from 18 countries, including neighboring Japan and South Korea, participated. The NKUST Apollo Solar Car Team carefully navigated the 3,000-kilometer course, enduring strong winds, heavy rain, and hail over six days, starting on August 24 and finishing on August 29.

This year's Apollo Solar Car Team consisted of 12 current students and four professional partners, led by Professor Ay Herchang with Assistant Professor Liao Mingyu from the Department of International Business serving as team manager. Professor Ay noted that on the final day of the race, August 29, the team received extreme weather alerts from the race's mission control center. They learned that Seoul National University's solar car had been severely damaged after being blown over by strong winds and rain, and witnessed a car from Japan's Wakayama University get blown off the road and hit a tree. Roughly half of the participating teams in the 2025 BWSC were forced to retire due to vehicle failures or not reaching control points in time.

At the 2023 BWSC, the NKUST Apollo Solar Car Team achieved an impressive fourth-place finish on the road and second-place in practicality. This year, their Apollo IX car from 2023 was upgraded and renamed Apollo IX Plus. Professor Ay explained that the Cruiser Class poses a greater design challenge, requiring vehicles to have at least two seats, a spacious interior, and a heavier weight, all while balancing energy efficiency with practicality. The goal is to design a vehicle that is close to a mass-producible product. Unlike previous years when the race was held in November, the winter timing meant about 20% less daily sunlight. To compensate, the Apollo IX Plus was extended by 30 centimeters compared to the 2023 model, increasing the surface area for solar cells. Additionally, the battery capacity was reduced from 50 kWh in 2023 to just 15 kWh, though overnight external charging was permitted.

In addition to the climate challenges, the Apollo Solar Car Team has faced international pressure since their first participation in the Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge in 2015, where they were not allowed to display their national flag. Despite this, Apollo Solar Car Team consistently impressed the world with its superior technical and design capabilities and continues to brings honor to Taiwan in various competitions. This year's BWSC also involved diplomatic efforts, which were strongly supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Melbourne, and overseas Taiwanese communities in Australia. Professor Ay expressed his gratitude, stating that the team was deeply moved by the warm support they received from enthusiastic overseas Taiwanese communities at various points along the route, from the start line in Darwin to the control point in Alice Springs and the finish line in Adelaide, especially while managing the pressures of the long race and the negotiations over their flag and name.