Clemson University students unveil energy-positive solar electric prototype

Graduate automotive engineering students at Clemson University, in partnership with BMW's research and development division, have unveiled the Deep Orange 17, a solar-powered electric prototype named ‘Luminetta’. The vehicle is designed to be ‘energy-positive’, meaning it aims to generate more energy through its integrated solar panels than it consumes during daily urban trips.

The prototype features over 1,700 photovoltaic cells integrated into its body. To test its viability, researchers simulated daily 20 km trips under various weather and lighting conditions in Greenville (USA), Frankfurt (Germany), Madrid (Spain), and Mumbai (India). Simulations suggest that after a 20 km drive, the solar system could generate enough surplus energy to provide an average of 50 km of additional daily range.

Achieving this efficiency required extreme weight reduction; the vehicle weighs approximately 550 kg, significantly less than standard production electric vehicles. The chassis utilizes a multi-material approach, combining high-strength steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and 3D-printed metal components. The design also incorporates biomimetic principles inspired by the boxfish to minimize aerodynamic drag. While the project relies on computational simulations rather than independent road tests, it is scheduled for exhibition at CES 2027.