Reference Design Kit for Solar Race Cars Leverages GaN to Provide Auxiliary Power

Power Integrations’ ref design kit gives eco-racers a turnkey solution for a reliable auxiliary power supply that can be used in solar-powered race cars.
Oct. 22, 2025
2 min read

What you'll learn:

  • What's included in the new solar race car kit?
  • How the kit meets the unique demands of solar race cars.

As 37 student teams prepared to race across the Australian Outback in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, Power Integrations released a new reference design kit for a 46-W auxiliary power supply that’s been tailored specifically to meet the unique demands of solar-powered race cars.

The kit, RDK-85SLR was inspired by a design created by PI’s PowerPros online support engineers in collaboration with the ETH Zurich aCentauri team. It incorporates PI’s PowiGaN gallium-nitride (GaN) switch technology.

The design kit is based on the company’s InnoSwitch3-AQ flyback power-supply IC, which achieves 95% efficiency while supporting loads ranging between 5 and 60 W,  eliminating the need for a heatsink. It includes a sample power supply, four InnoSwitch3-AQ ICs, and an unpopulated PCB — everything needed to create a 46-W power supply that can deliver up to 80 W for short periods.  

Although Power Integrations is a proud sponsor of the aCentauri team, the design kit is available to all solar racing teams and other interested parties. The RDK-85SLR is priced at $50. Solar race car teams can get the kit free by registering online. Live tech support is available from Power Integrations’ PowerPros team.

About the Author

Lee Goldberg

Contributing Editor

Lee Goldberg is a self-identified “Recovering Engineer,” Maker/Hacker, Green-Tech Maven, Aviator, Gadfly, and Geek Dad. He spent the first 18 years of his career helping design microprocessors, embedded systems, renewable energy applications, and the occasional interplanetary spacecraft. After trading his ‘scope and soldering iron for a keyboard and a second career as a tech journalist, he’s spent the next two decades at several print and online engineering publications.

Lee’s current focus is power electronics, especially the technologies involved with energy efficiency, energy management, and renewable energy. This dovetails with his coverage of sustainable technologies and various environmental and social issues within the engineering community that he began in 1996. Lee also covers 3D printers, open-source hardware, and other Maker/Hacker technologies.

Lee holds a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Thomas Edison College, and participated in a colloquium on technology, society, and the environment at Goddard College’s Institute for Social Ecology. His book, “Green Electronics/Green Bottom Line - A Commonsense Guide To Environmentally Responsible Engineering and Management,” was published by Newnes Press.

Lee, his wife Catherine, and his daughter Anwyn currently reside in the outskirts of Princeton N.J., where they masquerade as a typical suburban family.

Lee also writes the regular PowerBites series

Sign up for Electronic Design Newsletters
Get the latest news and updates.

Voice Your Opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Electronic Design, create an account today!