The ISU solar car team, PrISUm, launched their cross-country journey Sunday.

The race, the American Solar Challenge, started at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and will conclude in Claremont, Calif.

As of Monday night, Team PrISUm had traveled a total of 240 miles and was in Rolla, Mo.

The team is in 16th place out of 20 teams that qualified for the competition, before penalties.

“I think everything ran just as well as it could have today,” said team member Eric Christensen, senior in computer engineering, on Sunday.

The team experienced a loss of battery power and had to be “trailered” for 50 miles Monday.

Team members and their adviser were still optimistic.

“This team probably gets along the best we’ve ever had,” said Jim Hill, adviser to the team and professor of chemical engineering. “They do everything by consensus.”