Imagine your car gaining miles as it sits parked in the sun. This visionary concept drives Clemson University’s Deep Orange 17 project, where a group of inventive automotive engineering students have created an electric vehicle wrapped in 1,781 photovoltaic cells. These cells transform sunlight into a power source, showing the potential for the car to generate more energy than it consumes during a typical 24-hour urban commuting cycle, based on simulations.
Solar innovation at the core of the vehicle
Developed in collaboration with BMW of North America, the project utilizes its entire exterior to capture solar energy. The team at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE assisted in integrating these cells, which continue to produce electricity even in shade. Unlike typical solar racers, the design retains a familiar road-car silhouette, inspired by the aerodynamics of a boxfish.
Lightweight design to maximize efficiency
Weighing only 550 kilograms (1,212 pounds), Luminetta is a featherweight in the EV sector. Its structure combines steel for passenger safety, aluminum for weight reduction, and carbon-fiber with 3D-printed metal joints to trim unnecessary mass. This design ensures each ray of sunlight stretches the car’s driving range further, supplemented by regenerative braking and intelligent torque distribution, a remarkable feature of the solar-powered vehicle.
Parking as a source of power
Luminetta’s 31-mile energy surplus is based on simulated scenarios, and factors like commute length and weather play a crucial role. Parking location significantly affects energy gain as a garage roof offers less solar benefit than an open parking spot under direct sunlight. This innovative approach acknowledges parking as vital in energy management, integrating it into the design conversation, demonstrating another advantage of Clemson’s design.
A platform for continued research
Poised to make a public debut at CES 2027 in Las Vegas, the solar-powered car will continue its developmental journey at Clemson’s CU-ICAR campus in Greenville, South Carolina. Beyond the label of an energy-positive vehicle, Deep Orange 17 represents a paradigm shift in electric vehicle development. It challenges conventional focus on storage and replenishment and instead maximizes the idle hours when vehicles are stationary, converting them into productive, energy-harvesting opportunities.
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Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
What makes the Luminetta car unique?
The Luminetta car is unique because it is an electric vehicle wrapped in 1,781 photovoltaic cells that transform sunlight into a power source, potentially generating more energy than it consumes during a typical 24-hour urban commuting cycle.
How does the Luminetta car’s design aid in efficiency?
The Luminetta car’s design aids efficiency with its lightweight structure made of steel for passenger safety, aluminum for weight reduction, and carbon-fiber with 3D-printed metal joints, ensuring maximum energy gain from sunlight.
Where is the Luminetta car’s public debut planned?
The Luminetta car is poised to make a public debut at CES 2027 in Las Vegas and will continue its developmental journey at Clemson’s CU-ICAR campus in Greenville, South Carolina.