This list of prototype solar-powered cars comprises multiperson, relatively practical vehicles powered completely or significantly by solar cells which convert sunlight into electricity to drive electric motors while the vehicle is in motion and have a homologation for public streets.
The "e.coTech" is a normal electric car developed by "HiTech Electric" and is sold only to small and medium-sized businesses. In 2017, the solar version of "e.coTech" was announced and presented to the public in 2018.
Canada
Schulich Delta
The "Schulich Delta" from the University of Calgary was built for the 2013 World Solar Challenge.
China
Cars without name
The handicraft enthusiast "Chen Shungui" developed 2 prototypes between 2002 and 2010.
Germany
Hochschule Bochum: Open World
The solar vehicle was built in 2015 from the "Hochschule Bochum" to cross the desert of Tanami in Australia. Range with fully charged accumulator is 50 kilometers. The car have a solar roof with 160 Wp and in a box below the roof 1943 Wp solar panels for extension during driving breaks.
PowerCore SunCruiser
The "PowerCore SunCruiser" with 3 seats was built in 2013 by "Hochschule Bochum". Maximum Power created on his solar roof is 833 Wp. Car is equipped with 4 wheel hub electric engines. Participant on the World Solar Challenge 2013.
Sion
The Sion model from Sono Motors was presented to the public in July 2016. Two prototypes were financed by crowdfunding and were available for test drives in August 2017. The price will be EUR 16,000,- plus the battery you can rent or buy. Pre-orders are available through the website of Sono Motors. Delivery is scheduled to start in the 3rd quarter of 2019. The car has 5 doors, an 80 kW engine with a maximum speed of 140 km/h, is rechargeable with AC power and direct current. The battery will have a realistic range of 250 km. The solar cells integrated into the car body charge the battery so that, in good sunshine, up to 30 km of additional range per day are possible. It is possible to use the current of the battery in the Sion to operate electrical devices or to charge other electric cars. The workshop manual for the Sion including the CAD data of all spare parts for 3D printers or CNC Milling will be public, so that reasonable repair costs are to be expected. The owner of the vehicle can offer other people a power supply or a ride-in or rent his car.
SolarWorld GT
The 2-seater "SolarWorld GT" was built 2011 by "Hochschule Bochum" with 2 wheel hub electric engines in the front wheels. After the participation at the 2011 World Solar Challenge, the car and his team did the first full autarky world circumnavigation. This record was admitted by Guinness World Records. On the roof of the car are 3 m² solar cells and in the trunk additional 3 m² which are used during driving breaks. Maximum power creation of all solar cells is 1340Wp. More technical data can be found here:.
ThyssenKrupp SunRiser
"The "PowerCore SunCruiser" with two seats was built by "Hochschule Bochum" for the 2015 World Solar Challenge. Maximum Power created on its 3 m² solar roof is 870 Wp. Car is equipped with 2 wheel hub electric engines and comfort electronics. Top speed is 120 km/h. Range with solar charging only is up to 600 kilometers per day. Range with fully charged accumulator is up to 1100 kilometers.
With an EU - project led by Fiat a complete solar car with 3 seats was developed. This small car have four wheel drive. Range with solar charging only is 20 kilometers per day. Range with fully charged accumulator is 120 kilometers.
Archimede
Developed and built in Sicily by Association.
Emilia 4
Developed and built in Emilia Romagna in 2018 by the University of Bologna, the :it:Onda solare|Onda Solare Association and several industrial partners, Emilia 4 is a 4.6 meter long, 1.8 meter wide and 1.2 meter high 4 seats vehicle. It is equipped with a 5 square meter photovoltaic roof, made of 362 silicon cells, with a nominal power of 1200W. The car won the American Solar Challenge 2018 in the Multi-Occupant Vehicle category.
Japan
Kaiton II
The "KAITON II" from the "Goko High School" was built for the 2013 World Solar Challenge.
OWL
"OWL" was built for the 2015 World Solar Challenge in the Cruiser class by Kogakuin University.
has built the open 2-seater "Astrolab" since 2006. With solar charging only, its range is 18 kilometers per day. Its range with the accumulator fully charged is 110 kilometers. It has a top speed of 120 km/h.
designed the flanking seating, open-sided 3-seater "Eclectic" as a prototype in 2006. Its range with solar charging only is 7 kilometers per day. Fully charged, its accumulator gives a range of 50 kilometers. The car has a top speed 50 km/h. Its price was 'middle of the road' as announced, but serial production never started. There is also a small electric car with the name "Eclectic 2.0" from the same company.
The 5-seater solar car Lightyear One is built by the company Lightyear, whose founder and CEO Lex Hoefsloot has already won the World Solar Challenge several times, e.g. in 2013 with the car "Stella". The car is scheduled to go into production in 2021 and can now be reserved.
The 4-seater "Stella" was built for the 2013 World Solar Challenge by Eindhoven University. It was the winner in its class, and went on to win the crunchies award.
Stella Lux
The 4-seater "Stella Lux" was built as successor of Stella for the 2015 World Solar Challenge by Eindhoven University. It was the winner in its class again. With a top speed of 125 km/h and a European range of 1000 kilometers it is a substantial achievement with respect to common electric vehicles.
Stella Vie
In 2017 the Eindhoven team have built a new car for the World Solar Challenge, called Stella Vie, featuring five instead of four seats. By its introduction, this car was the most efficient family car ever built. More efficient than its predecessors due to its light weight and aerodynamic form and efficient enough to win the Cruiser Class of the World Solar Challenge for the third consecutive time with a big lead on the competition.
Twente One
The Twente One is the second solar car developed by the University of Twente and Saxion University in 2007, and succeeds the SolUTra. It was designed to participate in the 2007 World Solar Challenge. Its main innovations were a pivoting solar screen that follows the angle of the sun, and a system of fresnel lenses that focus the sunlight onto a solar panel with a system to adjust the panel so that the maximum amount of light from the lenses shines on the individual solar cells. The Twente One came in on the fifth place in the 2007 World solar Challenge.
Specifications
New Zealand
UltraCommuter
The "UltraCommuter" from the University of Waikato was built for the 2013 World Solar Challenge.
Pakistan
ECO1, ECO1GL and ECO3GL
ECO1, ECO1GL and ECO3GL are built by a technology enthusiast and entrepreneur Muhammad Aslam Azaad. Built in March 2014.
Slovenia
Metron 7
A Mazda 5 was converted to an electric car named Metron 7 by Andrej Pecjak and his Metron team and in 2014 permitted for public use. Range with solar charging is a few kilometers per day. Range with fully charged accumulator is 824 ! kilometers, proved from Berlin to Karlsruhe and through cities with average speed 72 km/h in June 2016.
Superpiki
The project "Yuneec & Metron" convert a Smart Roadster to an electric car with 80 Wp solar panel in 2011. Range with solar charging only is a few kilometers per day. Range with fully charged accumulator is 160 kilometers.
Switzerland
CateCar
In 2017 CATECAR INDUSTRIES SA presented the prototype "Dragonfly", which has the following characteristics: 4-seater, lightweight, small, renewable and solar powered. The Dragonfly is a 560 kg vehicle certified in M1, with a cabin in flax, a solar roof, an aspirator of fine particles capturing them around the clock. Unfortunately, the development has not led to a production-ready vehicle, jet. On the website and in the media there are no further news since 2017.
Icare
The project "Icare" build a Twike with an additional solar trailer and a small wind generator. With that vehicle they circumnavigate the world in 2010/11.
Solar Taxi
This vehicle circumnavigate the world 2007/08 with "Lois Palmer" as driver. Energy was delivered to 50% from the solar trailer and to 50% from the power grid. Power consumption: 8 kWh / 100 km.
"Daedalus" of the University of Minnesota was built in 2013 for the World Solar Challenge. It is currently on display at the PTC world headquarters in Boston, MA.
Eos
"Eos" of the University of Minnesota was built in 2015 for the World Solar Challenge and the 2016 American Solar Challenge. It is the only active multi-occupant solar car in the United States.
