John Storey and the Solar Spirit — A Life Devoted to Sustainability and Innovation

From Garage to Global Stage

Storey’s first solar car was built in a suburban garage with his wife and two brothers-in-law. “We were really all just having fun,” he said. Sponsored by Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith, the Team Marsupial solar car placed fourth in the inaugural race. “We just missed out on a podium finish, but we learned a great deal.”

That experience sparked a career-long involvement. Storey now leads a global team of volunteer scientists and engineers who shape the rules, inspect the cars, and ensure the race remains fair, safe, and forward-looking. “While one event is taking place, we're already starting to revise the regulations for the next,” he said.

A Teacher at Heart

Storey’s greatest joy isn’t the cars—it’s the people. “The biggest product of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge are the people,” he said. “These are largely student teams, and the training they get equips them to go out and make innovations in the corporate world.”

Storey’s seen it firsthand. “The electric car charging company Tritium spun off from a Queensland University team. Some of the early participants went on to work at Tesla. And when we needed engineers for our Antarctic observatories, we turned to the Sunswift Solar Car team.”

Living the Mission

Storey doesn’t just talk sustainability—he lives it. After retiring from the University of New South Wales, he and his wife moved to a 600-acre off-grid property near Canberra. “We have 16 kilowatts of solar panels, 48 kilowatt-hours of batteries, and a small diesel generator we rarely use,” he said.

The Storeys heat their home with wood from their land and drive a Hyundai Kona EV—his third electric car. “Once you've driven an electric car, you can never drive a gas car again. It just seems so silly.”

But going off-grid isn’t without challenges. “Most EVs don’t have a spare tire or enough ground clearance. And almost none have AM radios, which are essential in rural Australia where there’s no internet or FM signal.”

Still, Storey finds the lifestyle rewarding. “It’s fun, it’s challenging, and in some ways it’s more relaxing. We’re not dependent on the grid, and that gives us peace of mind.”

A Legacy of Optimism

Despite the environmental and political challenges facing the world, Storey remains hopeful for a sustainable future. “This event gives me hope,” he said. “It tells me that with enough will, we can make this world a much better place.”

He sees the Solar Challenge as a beacon. “It makes it crystal clear that you don’t need to use a lot of energy to move people around. These cars weigh 250 kilos with the driver and can travel 100 kilometers an hour powered only by sunlight.”

And while he doesn’t believe solar cars will become mainstream—“You still need a battery, and it’s more practical to charge it from a fixed panel”—he sees the race as a vital incubator for ideas.

“The event doesn’t exist in isolation,” he said. “It’s embedded in universities, tech institutes, and industry. Innovation flows in both directions.”

For Storey, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is more than a race. It’s a community, a classroom, and a cause. And after nearly 40 years, he’s still in love with it. “To be honest, the main reason I keep coming back is because it is just so much fun. It’s such an adventure. And the thing I like most of all are the people.”