The Sun could soon pay for your daily commute

For years, the idea of vehicles that run entirely on sunlight most or all of the time has been mostly limited to science clubs and hobbyists.

But thanks to recent technological breakthroughs, a growing number of EV drivers have begun using their vehicles regularly while barely ever plugging them in.

Here comes the charge

Startups across the US are rolling out new EVs and vehicle add-ons that can efficiently transform sunlight into fuel, and power short trips in their entirety.

• Telo Trucks produces a compact pickup with optional solar panels that can boost daily range by 15–30 miles on sunny days, supplementing its 350-mile battery.
• Aptera Motors plans to launch a $40,000 EV as early as next year with custom solar panels that capture enough sunlight to add 15–40 miles/day to the vehicle’s range.
• DartSolar targets existing EV owners by selling the world's first solar roof-rack system, which the company says can add 10-20 miles/day to a parked Tesla Model 3.

Driving (heh) the trend: Experts say the key to new solar innovations lies with next-gen EVs that are lighter, leaner, and smarter than previous editions, and carry electronics that are more powerful and efficient at channeling sunlight into the battery.

Looking ahead…If early adopters find that solar-powered EVs can deliver on fuel-saving promises, analysts expect demand for such vehicles and add-ons to climb.