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SOLAR-MOVE is positioning itself as a meaningful contribution to a more energy autonomous, less grid dependent electric mobility future
SOLAR-MOVE, launched under the EU Horizon Europe programme, aims to integrate PV directly into vehicles and charging infrastructure, reducing the impact of e-mobility on power systems and mainly on distribution grids.
With a budget of €8.2 million, a 42-month duration (November 2025 to April 2029), and a consortium of 35 partners from 16 countries, the project brings together universities, businesses, R&D centres, vehicle manufacturers, regulatory bodies and grid operators.
The SOLAR-MOVE project rests on two core concepts. The first, vehicle-integrated PV, embeds solar cells directly into a vehicle's body, roof, sides or trailer surfaces, turning the vehicle itself into a power source capable of generating part of its own energy, whether parked or in motion.
The main aim is to extend the range of these vehicles as well as use the solar energy for their auxiliary services when they are parked.
The second, electric vehicle compliant parking lot integrated PV, refers to charging stations built with integrated PV panels and storage systems, from solar carports over parking spaces to opportunity charging solutions for buses or highway stops.
SOLAR-MOVE will test these solutions across ten demonstrators: five vehicle integrated PV prototypes (heavy-duty trailer vehicles, garbage trucks, buses, last-mile delivery vans and motorhomes) and five parking lot integrated PV configurations, spanning contexts as varied as private sites, highways, municipal bus depots and commercial areas.
The project's targets include an extra 5–10 km/day of range from onboard solar generation, a 20–50% reduction in grid dependence, and a positive net present value for the solutions developed.
On the technology side, the project is pursuing high-efficiency TOPCon and SHJ solar cells, "Tetris puzzle" zero-gap modules, and V2G/V2L functionality to keep every demonstrator flexible and adapted for the different applications.
The challenges, however, go beyond engineering: integrating PV into irregular, curved vehicle surfaces, ensuring module durability against vibration and humidity, achieving accurate generation forecasts in shaded urban environments, and the absence of mature regulatory frameworks for vehicle and parking lot integrated PV are all identified as central obstacles to commercial viability.
SOLAR-MOVE also pays close attention to engaging different stakeholder target groups, including policy makers and regulators, system operators, aggregators and virtual power plants (VPP), charge point operators and technology providers, automotive OEMs, end users and fleet operators.
This recognises that scaling up electric mobility depends as much on regulatory clarity, sustainable business models, and user trust as on technological progress.
By validating PV integration in both vehicles and charging infrastructure at the same time, SOLAR-MOVE positions itself as a meaningful contribution to a more energy-autonomous, less grid-dependent electric mobility future, paving the way for technically mature and commercially viable solutions in the years ahead.
Several solutions will be developed in the project, and a specific strategy and business plan will be developed with the main aim of arriving to the market and create real value for the companies and end users as well.
About the author
Hugo Morais is a senior researcher at INESC-ID and an Associate Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. With a background in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, his research primarily focuses on advancing smart grid technologies and tools. he has contributed to over 40 academic and industrial research projects
1 November 2026 – 30 April 2029
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