No, Tesla Didn’t Build This Bizarre Cybertruck-Inspired Solar EV: This BMW-Backed Solar Car Project Uses the Sun’s Rays to Commute for Free
The 1,212-pound prototype uses more than 1,700 photovoltaic cells and can regenerate 31 miles of range a day, BMW said.
- Clemson University graduate students built the Luminetta for BMW, a two-seat solar EV covered in 1,700 photovoltaic cells that generates 31 miles of range daily, exceeding the 12-mile commute benchmark.
- BMW challenged Clemson University students to build an energy-positive vehicle; the box fish-inspired shape maximizes solar surface area across nearly every exterior inch.
- Weighing 1,212-lb, the prototype uses 3D-printed metal joints and lightweight materials including steel and aluminium. Regenerative braking and optimized torque distribution provide additional energy savings beyond solar harvest.
- Unlike Lightyear and Sono Motors, which failed at commercial production, the Luminetta makes no commercial promises and succeeds instead as a proof of concept.
- The vehicle will be displayed at CES 2027 in Las Vegas. BMW found that solar integration meaningfully extends range on lightweight platforms, though it cannot yet replace charging cables on consumer vehicles.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Together with BMW, Clemson University students have developed the Deep Orange 17 solar car. More than 1700 solar cells and consistent lightweight construction are supposed to enable a positive energy balance.
BMW-backed solar EV concept could end a typical day with more energy than it used
A student team working with BMW is exploring an unusual electric vehicle target. The group took aim at creating a car that can finish a typical day having harvested more energy than it used while driving. That idea drives Deep Orange 17, a solar-assisted EV developed through Clemson University's long-running partnership with BMW, according to BMW Blog. What happened? BMW asked Clemson students in 2024 to design an electric vehicle that could pro…
The Deep Orange 17 student electric car project, which was developed in collaboration with BMW, can produce more energy than it consumes during normal daily travel thanks to integrated solar cells.
No, Tesla didn’t build this bizarre Cybertruck-inspired solar EV: this BMW-backed solar car project uses the sun’s rays to commute for free
Deep Orange 17 is claimed to generate more electricity than it uses The BMW-backed project uses 1,700 photovoltaic cells The prototype is based on an average 12-mile daily commuteA team from Clemson University in South Carolina has produced a small, lightweight electric vehicle that it says can generate more energy than it uses over a typical day of urban driving.Dubbed the Deep Orange 17, the boxy prototype, which looks a little like a butchere…
The American Clemson University has introduced Deep Orange 17, a solar-integrated and energy-positive e-car prototype. The vehicle is designed to generate more energy than it consumes on a typical day of urban commuting.
BMW challenged students to build an EV that makes more energy than it uses. They covered it in 1,700 solar cells and it works.
BMW challenged graduate students at Clemson University to build an electric vehicle that generates more energy than it consumes in a day of urban commuting. Two years later, they have a working prototype. Deep Orange 17, which BMW calls the Luminetta, is a two-seat solar EV covered in more than 1,700 photovoltaic cells developed with […] This story continues at The Next Web
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