The QSVT concentrates its efforts in three principal areas: technical innovation, educational activities, and environmental awareness. This broad focus gives the QSVT the ability to impact a wide variety of individuals and groups. To maintain the success that has been established in these three areas, the cooperation and support of sponsors is essential.

Established in 1988, the QSVT designed and built its first car, Photomoto, to compete in the Great Canadian Solar Challenge. Since then, the team has had numerous astounding accomplishments. The summer of 2000 saw the team take on a cross-Canada tour, Suntrek, setting a Guinness World Record for the longest journey by a solar vehicle. During this tour, solar power, its uses, benefits, and importance were presented to Canadians through a variety of hands-on and educational activities. The QSVT’s races in 2003 were no less exciting; the team placed first out of the two-seater vehicles in both the North American Solar Challenge, and the World Solar Challenge, the two most prestigious solar vehicle competitions in North America and the world, respectively.

Behind all of the achievements and successes is a highly organized team. Through their efforts, the QSVT is able to achieve its goals and those of its sponsors through various activities including annual events at the provincial, national and international levels, each garnering considerable media attention. Thus, equipped with both a full corporate and media relations team, the QSVT has been able to utilize fully all of its media coverage to the full advantage of its sponsors.

The team is made up of about one hundred undergraduate students from Queen’s University at Kingston, mainly from the Faculty of Applied Science, the Faculty of Arts & Science, and the School of Business. Students perform all the tasks related to the team from engineering design and construction, to team administration and public education. It is a valuable opportunity that provides students with experience in engineering, management and teamwork preparing them for the workforce of today and tomorrow.