Venray, 26th of January 2026 — Lightyear announces a collaboration developed with Nissan to integrate advanced solar charging systems into a demonstration vehicle. What began in 2023 as a forward-looking concept has now evolved into a development and close to production-ready Lightyear vehicle integrated solar technology solution, delivering measurable benefits under real driving conditions. The demonstration vehicle features 3.8 m² of custom solar panels integrated across the hood, roof, and tailgate, showcasing how solar technology can be embedded into vehicle design without compromising performance or aesthetics.
Lightyear: Driving the Solar Mobility Vision
Lightyear envisions a future where cars charge themselves from the sun. The company develops proprietary solar systems that integrate state-of-the-art solar cells seamlessly into vehicle bodywork, enabling continuous energy generation without compromising automotive-grade design, safety, or aerodynamics.
Lightyear is now demonstrating their technology with multiple OEMs (vehicle manufacturers) with outstanding results, proving that solar energy can play an essential role in everyday mobility. Lightyear’s solutions reduce dependence on grid charging, lower emissions, and improve overall vehicle efficiency, with testing showing a 35–65% reduction in charging frequency depending on usage patterns and conditions.
“Our ambition has always been to make solar a meaningful and scalable part of electric mobility,” says Bonna Newman, CEO of Lightyear. “Working with the global car industry proves that our technology brings measurable benefits to EV drivers and owners; moving them beyond the grid and dependence on the plug.’’
A Proven Collaboration with Nissan
The Lightyear–Nissan collaboration showcases a new level of integration between solar technology and vehicle platforms. The jointly developed system meets automotive standards and demonstrates high levels of aesthetic integration, performance, and reliability.
Rather than a conceptual demonstration, the project delivers tangible energy gains under real driving conditions, supporting vehicle systems and contributing to increased efficiency—particularly in urban and commuter scenarios. Under clear, sunny conditions, the integrated solar system can enable up to 23 km of additional driving range generated directly from solar energy.
“We’ve moved past the proof-of-concept stage,” says CFO Herman van Barneveld. “This project demonstrates that Lightyear’s vehicle-integrated solar is ready to go to market.”
The Role of Solar Charging in Future Mobility
The results of this and other collaborations highlight the growing potential of solar charging as a complementary energy source for electric vehicles. While not a replacement for plug-in charging, solar integration can reduce charging frequency, extend usable range, and enhance user convenience by generating energy while the vehicle is moving or parked.
Real-world usage data shows that annual charging visits can be significantly reduced: from approximately 23 to 8 charging sessions per year for drivers covering around 6,000 km annually, and around 50% more time between charges for commuters driving approximately 12,000 km per year.
As the automotive industry seeks scalable solutions to improve sustainability and efficiency, vehicle-integrated solar technology is emerging as a credible and impactful option. With multiple collaborations with different OEMs, Lightyear demonstrates that solar-powered mobility is moving decisively from vision to production reality.
For additional insights on the collaboration, read Nissan’s press release here.