Midnight Sun Solar Race Team

The Midnight Sun team's goal is to build a competitive solar car which will show design, innovation and teamwork amongst students at the University of Waterloo.

The aims of the team are to raise environmental awareness, develop interest in renewable energy, educate the public on the environment, and take part in local community events.

[2] During Midnight Sun VII period, the team held the Guinness World Record for "Longest Journey by Solar Electric Vehicle".

[3] The trip took place from August 7 through September 14, 2004, the car travelled a total of 15,070 kilometres (9,360 mi) through the United States and Canada.

[4] The journey started at the university's Davis Centre, went through Vancouver, San Francisco, Houston, Florida, Washington DC, New York City, and Halifax before finishing at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

In 2007, the solar car's prompted locals to phone radio stations that was an UFO driving on highway in two different occasions due to its unusual design.

[7] Although the team's work on the car is not part of the school curriculum, some students can integrate class projects into the club.

[13] Midnight Sun won the award because they were the first team to successfully implement sailed shaped front fairings used to catch crosswinds.

Midnight Sun VII finished 3rd in the 2003 American Solar Challenge and earned the Award for Technical Innovation for the use of adaptable fairings, which enhanced sailing performance.

It is capable of speeds up to 115 km/h from dawn until a few hours past dusk,[19] and finished in 4th place overall in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge, a race in which only 15 of 25 cars made it to the final leg.

[24] The 8th generation of their solar car, MSVIII was on display at the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology located in Ottawa, and has since returned to the team's possession.