BLAVAL Solarone Solar Electric Car 5 Door 4 Seat
Solarone was launched in 2018 as the first solar electric car capable of genuine commercial mass production, and it is built around a simple idea: a family car that does most of its own charging. The full roof photovoltaic system supplies roughly 30 kilometres of additional range per day in adequate sunlight, which covers most daily driving in the vehicle’s intended market.
The car itself is a conventional five-door, four-seat hatchback on a load-bearing body structure, built to automotive process standards rather than to a lighter vehicle standard. A 9.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack, a 25 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor driving the rear wheels, and a 96 V control system give it a 200 km NEDC range from the battery alone.
What separates it from every other small electric car is what happens when it is parked. Solar energy goes into the battery and cuts out when full. When the car is moving, solar power feeds the air conditioning first, taking load off the electronic control system. And through the V2L system, the same battery becomes a 220 V power source for anything you plug in.
The car charges itself every time it stands in the sun, and becomes a 220 V power source whenever you need one.
01
A roof that charges the car
The photovoltaic system runs in two states. Parked, it feeds the traction battery and disconnects automatically at full charge. Driving, it prioritises the air conditioning and other low-priority loads, which reduces the load on the electronic control system and noticeably improves acceleration and climbing.
In poor light, rain or haze, the battery carries the full range on its own. The solar system extends the range; it does not create a dependency.
Roof photovoltaic panel and vehicle profile
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200 km on the battery, 30 km more every day
The 9.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack gives 200 km NEDC, and a full night on a domestic socket refills it in four to five hours through the on-board charger.
Consumption is around 5 kWh per 100 km. For a vehicle doing 30 to 50 km a day, the solar contribution alone covers most of the driving.
Charge port and on-board charger detail
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A 220 V power source on the move
The V2L system uses a bidirectional inverter to turn the traction battery into a mobile energy storage station, delivering 220 V AC at up to 3 to 6 kW through the discharge gun socket.
Camping, fishing, hunting, a market stall, a site office or a power cut: the same car that drove you there supplies the electricity.
V2L discharge gun and 220 V output
Key Features
What sets the Solarone apart
01
Full roof photovoltaic system
A solar generation system across the entire roof, adding about 30 km of range per day and freeing the vehicle from routine charging.
02
200 km NEDC from the battery
A 9.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack that carries the full range independently of the solar system, in any weather.
03
5 kWh per 100 km
Automatic switching between high and low speed modes holds consumption to around 5 kWh per 100 km.
04
V2L 220 V output at 3 to 6 kW
The battery becomes a power source through a bidirectional inverter, covering camping, outdoor work and emergency backup.
05
Five doors, four seats
A load-bearing body structure with five opening doors and four seats, built to automotive process standards.
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9-inch touch screen
A central touch screen with USB, Bluetooth, radio, music and video.
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Rear seats fold flat
The rear bench folds to extend the load area, giving practical space for shopping, luggage and deliveries.
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230 mm ground clearance, 25 percent climb
Clearance closer to an SUV than to a small hatch, with a 25 percent climbable gradient for rough roads and ramps.
09
Full safety equipment
Three-point belts, hill assist and hill descent control, side impact beams, battery management with current and voltage protection, central locking, child lock and window lock.
Applications
Where the Solarone fits
Family commuting
The intended use of the vehicle. Daily school runs, shopping and short trips, with the solar system covering most of the annual distance.
Shared and pooled cars
Shared car schemes where many short journeys per day mean the self-charging benefit accumulates fastest.
Rural and off-grid areas
Locations with unreliable grid supply or no nearby charging point, where a self-charging vehicle is the practical answer.
Mobile and site use
With 220 V output available, the car doubles as a power source for outdoor work, events or small business premises.
Technology
The systems behind the range
01
Full roof photovoltaic generation
About 30 km of range added every day by the sun. While the vehicle is parked, the photovoltaic system feeds the power battery and cuts out automatically once it is full. While the vehicle is moving, solar power is directed to loads such as the air conditioning first, which reduces the load on the electronic control system and improves acceleration and climbing. In poor weather the battery alone still delivers the full range.
02
E-LOOP energy recovery system
Range improved by 30 percent. The E-LOOP system integrates deceleration kinetic energy, coasting energy, braking energy and photovoltaic energy with battery management matching and the electric power characteristics of the drive motor, controller and pack. Drive mode and energy feedback are unified so recovered electricity is actually reused.
03
V2L vehicle power management
3 to 6 kW of 220 V AC power on tap. A bidirectional inverter turns the traction battery into a mobile energy storage station. The discharge gun delivers 220 V AC through its own socket at up to 3 to 6 kW, covering camping, fishing, hunting, self-driving trips and emergency backup when the grid is down.
04
Automatic torque and speed switching
5 kWh per 100 km. The vehicle switches between high and low speed modes according to the driving situation. On gradients it drops into a low speed, high torque mode for climbing ability, and returns to the high speed mode on open roads to save energy. Consumption is around 5 kWh per 100 km.
Certification and Supply
Approvals, documentation and export support
01
EEC whole vehicle approval
European whole vehicle type approval is available, including the Solar2 under e13*168/2013*02250*00 as an L7e-CU. L-class and M1-class world manufacturing identifiers are in place, and the approval route for the destination market is confirmed in writing before order.
02
ISO quality management
Quality management systems are certified to ISO standards, with documentation provided with the vehicle.
03
Right-hand drive supply
Right-hand drive solar vehicles are supplied to more than 90 countries and regions, concentrated in southern Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Hand of drive is specified per model at order.
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Vehicle programme options
OEM, SKD and CKD supply modes are available, along with logo customisation, custom body colour and container packaging and protection planning.
05
Battery pack support
Lithium battery pack customisation is available, as is modification of right-hand drive vehicles for specific markets.
06
Sea freight documentation
Documentation for sea transportation of electric vehicles with lithium batteries is provided, including the required declaration and handling paperwork.
07
Export market fit
Low latitude markets with strong solar resources show the highest acceptance, and several countries apply zero duty to electric vehicles imported in complete vehicle form. Rates and eligibility are re-checked at the time of order.
08
Service and training
Product and technical training, export documentation support and after-sales service are provided as part of the supply arrangement.
09
V2L and emergency use
The V2L system makes the vehicle usable as a mobile power source, which extends its value beyond transport during outages and outdoor use.
FAQ
Solarone questions
Does the solar panel charge the car while it is driving?
Yes, but the priority is different. While driving, solar power is directed to loads such as the air conditioning rather than the battery, because reducing the load on the electronic control system improves acceleration and climbing immediately. The battery is topped up mainly while the vehicle is parked.
What happens in cloudy or rainy weather?
The battery delivers the full range on its own, which is 200 km NEDC. The photovoltaic system extends that range in good conditions; it is not required for the car to be usable.
How long does charging take?
Four to five hours through the on-board charger, with an input voltage range of 96 V to 264 V. If the car is parked in sunlight during the day, much of that is replaced by the roof system before you get to it.
Can it power other equipment?
Yes. The V2L system uses a bidirectional inverter to deliver 220 V AC at up to 3 to 6 kW from the traction battery, through the socket on the discharge gun. This covers camping equipment, outdoor tools, small appliances and emergency backup.
What is the vehicle classification?
It is a five-door, four-seat hatchback built on a load-bearing body structure to automotive process standards, with a 25 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor driving the rear wheels.
Is it available in right-hand drive?
Yes. Right-hand drive solar vehicles are a major part of the range and are supplied to markets across Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Hand of drive is confirmed at order.
What safety equipment is fitted?
Three-point seat belts for driver and passenger, hill assist and hill descent control, side impact beams, a battery management system with current and voltage protection, and central locking with child lock and window lock.
How does the range work out in practice?
The 200 km figure is NEDC. Real driving in mixed conditions typically delivers between 90 and 160 km, and the roof photovoltaic system typically adds a further 30 km on a day with adequate sunlight.
What colours are available?
Body colour is agreed against a physical sample or the paint code rather than a fixed published list, and custom colour matching is available against order quantity. The colour is confirmed at order along with the hand of drive.