We are in the age of electric vehicles. All major automakers strive to stand out with unique models that offer increased range and power. Some manufacturers have also innovated in electric cars by integrating solar cells into the bodywork to provide energy to the battery in an environmentally friendly way.
The usefulness of solar electric vehicles (SEVs) has long been debated by experts and enthusiasts. In fact, it’s a cool concept to integrate solar panels into the body of cars to at least allow their batteries to collect some extra energy to run the car for a few miles a day.
In this article on best solar cars, we would like to discuss some of the most advanced solar cars.
The models on our list are not necessarily already on the market, but are only at the prototype stage. However, the list will give you an idea of the new inventions and technologies that are turning electric cars into self-charging solar vehicles.
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Sound Sion
| Body styling and layout | 5-door front-wheel drive |
| electric motor | 120 kW (160 PS) |
| Drums | 54kWh LFP |
| electric range | 305km |
| Extended solar autonomy | 112 km (up to 245 km max.) per week. |
| Price | €29,900 |
Sono Sion is a 5-seater electric car with integrated solar cells. It comes from Sono Motors, a German startup, which announced the car in April 2022, and it is expected to go into mass production in 2023 and will be available in early European markets.
The electric car will have a 54 kWh LiFePO4 battery and will be able to travel up to 305 km on a single charge according to WLTP standards. The engine under the hood is a 120 kWh unit, which can produce 163 hp and a speed of 40 km/h with a torque of 270 Nm.
With no fewer than 456 half-cells built into its body, the car is expected to provide 112 km (up to a maximum of 245 km) of extended range per week using solar power.
According to the brand, it managed to integrate the solar cells throughout the car body using patented injection molding technology in the production phase itself. This way, the solar cells will look the same as any vehicle’s paint and won’t detract from the overall look and style of the vehicle.
Additionally, Sono Motors has designed the car with power outlets so users can harness the power of its built-in battery to run their household appliances up to 3.7kW while camping or traveling. outside.
Plus, with the brand’s Wallbox DC charging station, you can use your car’s battery to power your home in case of an emergency or power outage.
The car comes with an exclusive Sono app which is useful for owners to multitask easily. Car sharing, ride sharing and power sharing are some of the coolest features of the mobile app.
solar wingless
| Body styling and layout | 3-door hatchback coupé with integrated engines |
| electric motor | 2 or 3 x 50 kW from Elaphe |
| Drums | 23, 41, 60 or 100 kWh of L-Ion |
| electric range | 400km, 600km, 1000km and 1600km |
| Extended solar autonomy | 65 km per day. |
| Price | $25,900 |
Aptera is another big manufacturer of solar electric cars. The cars of this American innovator are famous for their super aerodynamic and lightweight designs. The Aptera solar car is able to meet most of your daily needs without recharging as it is backed by solar panels all over its body.
The Aptera solar car is a three-wheeled, two-seater electric vehicle. As seen in the photo, it showcases an incredibly unique design with amazing sleek vibrancy and resembles the belly of a dolphin. Depending on the brand, the car is 65% lighter than other solar electric vehicles.
Another impressive thing that sets the Aptera solar car apart from the competition is its availability of multiple battery options. You can choose a car with several battery options, such as 23 kWh, 41 kWh, 60 kWh and 100 kWh, respectively, with a range of 250 km, 400 km, 600 km and 1,000 km.
Aptera’s Never Charge technology gives the car an extended range of 65 km per day on solar power, as it is equipped with 700 W solar cells throughout its body, from the hood to the dashboard.
With multiple units of 50 kW Elaphe motors, an Aptera can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.
light year 0
| Body styling and layout | 5 doors and 4 wheel drive. |
| electric motor | 80kW |
| Drums | 60kWh |
| electric range | 1000km |
| Extended solar autonomy | 70 km per day. |
| Price | €119,000 |
Lightyear 0 is a very practical 5-seater solar car from a Dutch startup. With a massive 60 kWh battery, it can deliver a range of up to 1,000 km. Roof-mounted solar cells can add an additional 70 km of daily range to the car and a total performance of 1,100 km per year.
The roof of the solar car carries 5 m² of patented high-efficiency double-curved solar cells and four independently controlled wheel motors.
In addition to the solar panels, the car can be charged faster at normal electric vehicle charging stations. It can also be charged from a normal household socket.
The Lightyear car can reach a speed of 100 km/h in just ten seconds.
The body panels are made of recovered carbon fiber and its interior is also made with components of natural origin to guarantee respect for the environment in all phases of its development.
The trunk is 640 liters.
Like the Sono Sion, the Lightyear 0 has a typical car design with a better airfoil for faster, sun-fuelled cruising.
FiskerOcean
| Body styling and layout | Front and rear wheel drive SUV |
| electric motor | Front-wheel drive single engine |
| Drums | 80kWh Li-Ion battery |
| electric range | 480km |
| Extended solar autonomy | 1500 km per year |
| Price | $37,499 |
Fisker Ocean is a fully electric SUV with a “SolarSky” sunroof for increased range.
The first deliveries of the solar car should begin in early 2023.
The best thing about the car is that it comes with a revolutionary full-length sunroof. It can supply a good amount of green power to the included battery, allowing the car to reach an extended range of around 1,500 km per year.
Fisker’s solar car comes with an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery and can reach speeds of 100 km/h in just three seconds. Besides the solar panels, most of the car was built with sustainable and recycled materials, such as ocean debris and vegan leather.
Since the introduction of its concept car, Fisker’s solar car has been exhibited at various auto shows around the world and received high praise for its appearance and performance. In addition to the United States, the car will go on sale in Europe.
Like the Sono Sion, Fisker’s solar car has a PowerBank system that can be used to draw power from its built-in battery to run household or roadside equipment.
With its huge battery capacity, you can run your home for a week, and the included power outlets allow you to use power-hungry outdoor appliances and electronics.
The PowerShare feature allows you to share your car’s power with another electric vehicle to give another owner an emergency power boost.
Squad Solar City Car
| Body styling and layout | 2 to 4 seater urban microcar |
| electric motor | 2kW |
| Drums | 4 interchangeable 1.6 kWh lithium-ion batteries |
| electric autonomy | 100km |
| Extended solar autonomy | 20 km per day |
| Price | 6250 euro |
The Squad is one of the first solar-powered city cars. Unlike all previous models, it is a microcar with solar cells on the roof to fully meet the charging needs of a small city car.
People typically drive a microcar for around 12km per day on average and this car is designed to charge in the sun for 20km per day in Europe meaning you will never have to resort to its 220V charging option.
The Squad solar car comes in two variants: L6 and L7. The first is a two-seater at 45 km/h, while the second is a four-seater at 70 km/h. All variants have heating, while air conditioning is optional and the batteries are portable and interchangeable.
It goes without saying that the solar panel microcar is the cheapest of its kind available to customers.
The car starts at a cheaper price of 6250 euros. Plus, they will most likely exempt you from other expenses that normal cars have. You won’t have to pay road tax, congestion charges, parking fees, etc. Moreover, to drive this small car, in many countries you will not even need a driver’s license.
