Near the end of 2006, there was consensus that there was no longer much of a challenge in building a fast solar car as long as a team could obtain funding for it. Therefore, 2007 will bring a new wave of innovation as regulations are revised. Here is a sampling of the new rules:

• The driver must now sit upright and can only recline up to a certain angle.
• A standard kill switch will be installed in a common position for emergency crews to shut off power to the entire car.
• Strobe lights will be installed for enhanced visibility for other drivers.
• An implementation of parking brakes and headlights is required.
• Competitors choosing to use space-grade, gallium-arsenide cells will be allowed to have six square meters of solar cells. Those using silicon cells will be allowed to use eight square meters of solar cells.

With these new regulations, solar car teams will once again face the engineering challenges that will ultimately bring solar-powered cars even closer to becoming a feasible and eco-friendly mode of transportation.