Join Us
CalSol is home to many bright minds at Berkeley, and some of our Alumni are now working at places like General Motors, Ford, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and many other engineering and technology organizations. CalSol is a great place to learn and develop practical industry skills, find mentors, and make friendships!
How Do I Join?
We need your help to build our newest solar vehicle, Excalibur! We have ended our recruiting for the Spring 2024 semester. If you are still interested in joining our club, please join us next semester during our Fall 2024 recruitment. Feel free to reach out to any of the executive members with questions you may have. We are excited to have you join us next fall!
Steps
Choose a Subteam
Read over our different team descriptions here and pick which subteam(s) you’d be most interested in joining.
Note: this initial decision is not a binding commitment, and we encourage you to explore any and all other subteams once you have picked a good starting point; it’s not unusual for people to end up working on multiple subteams, so don’t feel boxed in!
Come to Our Next Meeting
You will learn most from face-to-face contact, so find out when the next subteam and general meeting is. Our team calendar is public here. This is not always complete/accurate, however, so make sure to confirm with a team member or contact us.
FAQs
When can I join the team?
Immediately! Most of our members join at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, but we gladly accept new recruits any day, even if school isn’t in session.
Do I have to be an engineering major to join?
No. Although the team is comprised of many engineers, we value our non-engineering members as well. We believe the willingness to commit and learn from others are some of the most important skills in an effective team member, regardless of the member’s major. Moreover, many of our operations are non-technical: corporate relations, sponsorships, publicity, finances, etc.
What will I do in CalSol?
You can get involved in any and all states of designing and manufacturing a solar electric vehicle. CalSol provides a unique experience for Berkeley students to get hands-on with a large-scale engineering project.
3D CAD modeling (Computer Aided Design)
Structural analysis with FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
Carbon fiber composites fabrication and testing
Machining and welding
PCB (printed circuit board) design and fabrication
Contact businesses and manage sponsor relations
Programming microcontrollers
Battery pack management and design
Through-hole and surface mount soldering
Manage logistics and operations