Halmstad University Solar Team

What do you dream about doing in the future? Do you want to create a more sustainable world, meet new friends and make memories that will last you a life time? That is precisely what a group of engineering students at Halmstad University are doing right now!

Halmstad University Solar Team (HUST) consists of about thirty students working together to build a solar powered car. They are going to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019, the world’s largest race for solar cars. In the race, they will drive more than 1,800 miles across the Australian desert, from Darwin in the north to Adeleide in the south. Linn Persson is one of the drivers:

”There are four drivers, and I am the only woman. The car industry, as well as engineering in general, is male dominated. Because of that, we think that it’s extra important that at least one of our drivers is female. We want to show that engineership is for anyone, no matter gender”, says Linn Persson.

A streamlined race car driving through a desert. Illustration.

This is what the finished car might look like.

Aiming to change the world

The members of HUST, who are all students at the Programme in Innovation Engineering at Halmstad University, have their goals set high.

”We want to win the race, and our chances to do so are good, but we don’t settle for that. Our goal is to change the automotive industry, and through that contribute to a more sustainable future”, says Adam Jisland, project leader for HUST, and continues:

”In order to reach our long-term goals, we believe that HUST needs to live on, even after this year’s race. We strive towards making a lasting impression, and we hope that future students will feel motivated to keep developing new versions of the car. The race in Australia is held every two years, but there are also races in the USA, South Africa and Chile, so if you want to, it’s possible to compete at least once a year. I dream about bringing my future grandchildren to the University and showing them all the HUST cars.”

”We want to win the race, and our chances to do so are good, but we don’t settle for that. Our goals is to change the motor industry, and by that to contribute to a mor sustainable future.”

Adam Jisland

A large-scale project

The students put in a lot of hours, and they are very invested in the project.

”To be a part of HUST is very rewarding, both in the long and short term. We compare HUST to an extra education, because we learn so much from it. It’s also a big advantage that we are still students. The academic world is quite forgiving. We are allowed to try out ideas, and if we fail, we just try again. It’s a good platform for development”, says Adam Jisland.

A young man and a young woman, both wearing blue. Photo.

Adam Jisland and Linn Persson are students at the Programme in Innovation Engineering at Halmstad University.

Linn Persson agrees:

”HUST is our pet project. We live and breathe HUST. The project members have all become close friends, and we hang out almost constantly. We have been allowed to take a lot of responsibility for the project, and it has been a very interesting and awarding process. We are creating something that we believe in, and that will result in good things, both for us and for society. We are working with innovation and sustainability, and we apply all our university courses in this project. It’s leadership. It’s solidity. It’s mechanics. It’s everything. It’s very good to be allowed to test our wings in a safe environment”, she adds.

”HUST is our pet project. We live and breath HUST.”

Linn Persson

Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is the world’s biggest solar-powered car race. It started in 1987 and takes place every other year. In the competition, teams of students from universities all over the world are driving 3,022 kilometers from the north to the south of Australia – from Darwin to Adelaide.