The Tamagawa Solar Challenge Project was established with the brief of researching effective uses of solar energy. In 2001 the Solar Car Studio was completed. In 2003, a hybrid solar car called "Apollondine" was built, featuring a new system that uses solar cells and hydrogen (fuel batteries). Driving Apollondine, students attempted to cross the Australian continent-a distance of 4,000km-in 20 days, the record achieved by the pioneer solar car adventurer Hans Tholstrup 20 years ago. The students in fact set a new record: crossing the continent in just nine days.