Project SolarMoves: Vehicles Produce Part of their Own Energy Needs

E-mobility Project SolarMoves: Vehicles Produce Part of their Own Energy Needs

2026-06-01 From Stefanie Eckardt | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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The European research project SolarMoves examined the technical and practical potential of vehicles that produce their own solar energy. Result: Cars with integrated solar modules can help significantly reduce electricity demand and the strain on the power grid.

Cars could generate up to 55 percent of their energy needs themselves in Central Europe; in Southern Europe, it could be up to 80 percent.(Image: Lightyear) — Cars could generate up to 55 percent of their energy needs themselves in Central Europe; in Southern Europe, it could be up to 80 percent.
(Image: Lightyear)

The European pilot project SolarMoves, with partners TNO, Fraunhofer ISE, Sono Motors, IM Efficiency, and Lightyear, demonstrated the potential of vehicles that generate their own solar energy. By integrating solar modules into the roof, hood, or side panels of vehicles, electricity is produced where it is consumed. This requires neither additional space, new infrastructure, nor a strain on power grids.

The partners' investigations revealed that a vehicle in Central Europe— assuming short annual usage cycles and ample roof area—can generate up to 55 percent of its energy needs on its own. In Southern Europe, this figure can even reach up to 80 percent. This not only increases user convenience through fewer external charging sessions but also significantly reduces external electricity consumption per kilometer. "The study analyzed data from 23 different vehicle types—from compact city cars to heavy trucks – and combined detailed vehicle and driving profiles with Meteosat satellite data as well as meteorological data from Amsterdam and Madrid," explained Christian Braun, project member and researcher at Fraunhofer ISE. "For this purpose, the vehicles were equipped with sensors, and measurement data from 1.3 million kilometers (over 800,000 miles) driven was evaluated."

Significant Reductions Possible

Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) can offer significant benefits to individual users. Furthermore, it also shows an impact on the system level: in a simulation, the research team calculated that if all new vehicles between 2024 and 2030 were equipped with VIPV, electricity demand from the European grid could decrease by 15.6 terawatt-hours by 2030. This corresponds to the annual production of approximately 2,200 onshore wind turbines with a capacity of 3 megawatts. Why is this project so important? "Electrification alone is not enough. We need innovations that structurally reduce energy demand. VIPV makes a contribution precisely in this area," emphasizes Lenneke Slooff-Hoek, project manager of SolarMoves at TNO.

Special Focus is on Commercial Vehicles

The benefits are considered particularly significant in the logistics sector. Delivery vans, trucks, and vehicle trailers have ample roof space while consuming large amounts of energy for cooling, heating, and auxiliary systems. In electric trucks, VIPV can extend the daily range by up to 15 percent. For truck trailers, the power output in summer can reach up to 55 kWh per day, and 90 to 110 kWh if the side panels are also equipped with solar modules—enough to operate cooling or hydraulic systems entirely emission-free.

VIPV also offers advantages for diesel trucks: Because air conditioning, heating, and other systems require less diesel, fuel consumption would decrease significantly. The research team calculated that the investment costs for VIPV could pay off in less than two years.

Framework Conditions Necessary

Based on their analysis results, the research consortium recommends incorporating VIPV into the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) so that CO₂ reductions and energy savings can be utilized at the national level to secure tax incentives and develop guidelines for solar-compatible parking areas. Furthermore, they recommend the development of a clear European framework that recognizes VIPV in the Renewable Energy Directive.

The foil cut patterns can be used to imitate roof tiles, for example, without significantly impairing the efficiency of the PV module. (Image:Fraunhofer ISE / Marco Ernst)

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