Tata Power Solar, India’s largest integrated solar player, and Manipal Institute of Technology today unveiled SERVe (Solar Electric Road Vehicle), the university’s first prototype solar car. Designed by students of the SolarMobil team, with an intention of commercial usage, the vehicle is custom-fitted with bespoke solar panels designed by Tata Power Solar.

This two-seater, four-wheeled prototype, run solely on solar energy, weighs 590kg, can reach up to 60kph with a cruising speed of 30kph.

The solar panels are custom-made to fit the car’s curved surface enhancing aerodynamics and vehicle performance. The highly efficient panels weigh 35kg, less than half of conventional panels, and provide up to 960 watts power. The car also houses a direct solar drive, powered by solar panels, to maintain the cruising speed and is supplemented by extra power from its high-end energy storage system.

Speaking on the project, Dr P Giridhar Kini, associate director, Manipal University, said, “We are extremely happy to see how our students have combined their passion for green energy, through the launch of SERVe. Industry-academia collaboration is the key to foster innovation among the student community. Hence, working with corporates like Tata Power Solar helped our students get technical support and knowledge transfer. The team looks forward to working with more companies for future projects and to continue to nurture student-level innovation.”

“We are pleased to be part this project driven by a talented student-team. This project epitomizes Tata Power Solar’s belief that fostering innovation is key for the proliferation of solar energy. We not only encourage innovation within our organization but also propagate universities’ participation for this cause, since they can play an important role in driving innovation in partnership with the industry,” said Ashish Khanna, executive director and CEO, Tata Power Solar.