Sharjah Research, Technology & Innovation Park teams up with Lightyear to develop world’s first solar-powered car

The world’s first solar-powered vehicle is being created by the collaboration of the Netherlands-based Lightyear and Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI). Lightyear’s collaboration with the park, which acts as a center for digital company incubation, will be the first of its type and will improve the UAE’s reputation for environmentally friendly transportation options.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the two sides to help grow Lightyear’s international presence outside of the Netherlands while reflecting the rising global importance of the SRTI Park.

The two companies are “exploring a range of activities to drive sustainable mobility in the region” which could include the establishment of Lightyear testing facilities and sales and service support across the region.

This is the tech company’s first base outside the Netherlands.

Lightyear and SRTI Park aim to set up university research exchange programmes on solar-powered electric vehicles (EVs), and advance policy initiatives that promote government incentives for EVs, including solar-extended EVs.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The UAE has created a holistic innovation ecosystem that helps companies develop and scale up trailblazing solutions.

“Today, it is a hub for top-notch competencies and scientific innovations, particularly those related to clean energy.”

The partnership complements the UAE’s efforts to combat global warming and contribute to collective climate action, and aligns with its Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

CEO of SRTI Park, Hussain Al Mahmoudi said: “Having Lightyear at the SRTI Park boosts the UAE’s position as a nation on the frontline of the transition to sustainable mobility, and, in doing so, contributes to combating climate change through innovative technologies.

“UAE is already the world’s third-largest producer of solar power, making it the perfect place to test Lightyear’s patented solar technology.”

Lightyear CEO, Lex Hoefsloot, said the partnership would “further move the needle of innovation in solar electric vehicles” and that the GCC region is “a strong growth market for solar electric vehicles.”

SRTI Park has been attracting global innovation-driven companies that are conducting R&D in vital sectors such as transportation, vertical farming, hydrogen energy and 3D printing.

Lightyear, which began as a world championship winning car racing team, became experts in energy efficiency and decided to use its knowledge for solar car technology.

Its first-of-its-kind solar-powered car (called Lightyear 0) is production-ready and has the potential to revolutionise the auto industry. It has a top speed of 160 kilometres an hour and accelerates from zero to 100kph in 10 seconds.

Thanks to a solar yield of up to 11,000 kilometres a year, drivers using Lightyear 0 for their daily commute (based on a distance of 35 kilometers) can drive for months in the summer period before needing to recharge.

Lightyear’s entry into the EV market comes at a time when it is estimated the total EV transition for Europe would cost more than 80 billion euros (AED307 billion). Most of this investment would be used for the charging infrastructure.

With Lightyear’s solar electric vehicle innovations, dependence on charging infrastructure would be mitigated, helping to drastically lower costs.