Coupling solar and eMobility: the next frontier in clean transport

The global transition to cleaner energy and mobility systems is accelerating, but progress remains uneven. Climate goals are becoming more challenging, urban air quality remains a key concern and energy security is once again a threat in many regions. In this fast-changing landscape, the integration of solar energy and electric mobility represents one of the most effective ways to cut emissions at scale – replacing fossil fuels altogether rather than simply relocating them from tailpipes to power stations. 

Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming how we travel, with adoption rising rapidly. Global electric car sales surpassed 17m units in 2024 – a year-on-year increase of more than 25% – and are projected to exceed 20m in 2025, representing over one-quarter of all new cars sold worldwide.¹

This growth will inevitably increase electricity demand, especially from charging infrastructure that must scale alongside EV adoption. If that electricity is supplied from fossil sources, we risk undermining the environmental benefits of EVs. Solar energy therefore becomes essential: it enables the direct decarbonisation of both power and transport, ensuring that EVs are powered by genuinely clean energy.  

Both solar power and EVs are advancing quickly, especially in regions with abundant sunlight and ambitious clean energy strategies. Yet without deliberate integration, new inefficiencies could emerge. For instance, EVs often charge in the evening when solar output is low, increasing reliance on conventional energy sources, and stressing the grid. At the same time, daytime solar generation is frequently underutilised, even as overall electricity and mobility demand rises.  

Aligning solar generation with EV charging through smart infrastructure, energy storage and demand-side management can reduce grid emissions, optimise energy use and create more resilient, cost-effective mobility systems. 

Integrated systems also enable innovation such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, decentralised energy networks and smart city applications. But this transition requires purposeful action across sectors, progressive policy frameworks and significant investment in both digital and physical infrastructure. 

The next leap in sustainability is not about scaling individual technologies but about weaving them together. Solar-powered e-mobility ecosystems must now move from concept to reality, building smarter, cleaner and more connected systems that serve both people and the planet.