Sunlight energy has been a thing for years now. The technological advance in this field can push solar panels to generate enough energy to power a house for a full day – but how about cars? The Dutch company Squad Mobility has built a compact vehicle powered fully by the sun. The need for new, renewable sources of fuel is pushing the industry forward into an era where combustion engines may not lead in the market.
The company is following the trend
In Norway, almost 100% of the cars sold in 2024 were electric. The market is also making its way into a hybrid domination, with old school drivers preferring to just add the electric powertrain instead of going full electric. As the cars powered by sunlight make their way into the market, the EV could get a new ally in an emission-free world.
The need of also taking cars off the streets due to the high numbers of vehicles on the road causing traffic is also something the Dutch company Squad Mobility considered before developing a vehicle big enough for a driver, but also small enough that people can share it through a personal app – if one is available in the region, you can take it.
Squad Mobility’s sunlight-powered vehicle coming to the U.S. in 2025
The US hasn’t fully embraced tiny electric cars yet. In Europe and Asia, they’re everywhere. But Squad Mobility, a Dutch company, wants to change that. They’ve opened pre-orders for their small sunlight-powered vehicle, aiming to bring it to American streets soon.
They call it the “Solar Buggy.” It’s a small EV that charges itself using the sunlight, thanks to a solar panel built into the roof. It’s not really a traditional car, though—at least not in the US. Over there, it’s classified as a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV), which means it can only hit speeds up to 25 mph (about 40 km/h) to be considered street legal.
In Europe, things are different. Squad sells two versions with more power. One can reach 28 mph (45 km/h), the other up to 43 mph (70 km/h). They’re even working on a four-seater and a small cargo version.
Their CEO, Robert Hoevers, said they’re seeing strong interest from these types of places across the US. The company plans to launch the car in the US in 2025, starting at $6,250 before taxes. You can already place a pre-order without paying anything upfront, as long as you’re outside Europe.
The focus on solar power
What makes Squad’s vehicles stand out is the focus on solar power. The roof panel can add around 13 miles (22 km) of extra range per day in the Netherlands. In places where sunlight endures the whole day, like Las Vegas, that number jumps to almost 19 miles (31 km) of extra driving without plugging in. In Europe, micro-cars and quadricycles are popular in packed cities. In the US, Squad’s cars are likely to be used in gated communities, resorts, campuses, amusement parks, and areas where golf carts are common.
Features you won’t find anywhere
- You can remove the doors on hot days. They’re optional and can be bought later if you prefer. The windows slide down, making it even more practical.
- To help in tight city streets, the wheels stick out slightly from the car’s body, acting like bumpers. Handy when parking or squeezing through narrow spots.
- At just 2 meters long, the Squad is small enough to park sideways in a standard parking spot, with its tires right up against the curb. This means you can park almost anywhere – depending on the city/state laws.
Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind
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