Following the world trend, a Pune-based carmaker Vayve Mobility has developed the nation’s first solar-powered solar mini SUV, The Vayve EVA. The Eva solar car resembles the likes of the soon-to-launch MG Air EV and the PMV electric. The solar car ‘Eva’ has space for two adults and a child. It is climate controlled, easy to park, and convenient to charge.

Eva is android auto/Apple car play compatible and boasts wide driver visibility, a 6-way adjustable driver seat, and a panoramic sunroof. The two-seater smart car features solar panels on its roof for additional charging on top of a battery pack.

The solar car has a 6kW liquid-cooled PMSM electric motor. It draws power from a 14 kWh battery pack, features active liquid cooling, 4-hour charging on a standard house socket, and can be charged up to 80 percent in 45 minutes on CCS2. The complete car is built on Monocoque chassis. It packs an IP68-certified powertrain and has standard safety features like the driver airbag. The compact size and efficient design of the car make it ideal for city driving, and it's solar power source eliminates the need for fuel, making it an environmentally friendly option.

The car draws energy from a modular battery pack with an efficiency of 20 km/kWh, featuring an active liquid cooling setup. Elaborating on the same, Saurabh Mehta, CTO of Vayve Mobility, says, “Eva would have a range of 250 km+, which would require charging only once or twice a week, being fully charged in four hours using a 15A electrical socket available at your home.”

When parked or driven in the sun, the solar PV system in Eva will harvest enough energy to provide free charging of up to 3,000 km per year, or an average of 10 km/day. The company says improvements in solar PV technology will only increase the free charging range of the car in future.  While Vayve is yet to disclose the details of the car’s powertrain, it has been primarily developed to tackle everyday urban commutes. The company claims that Eva will be able to accelerate from 0 to 40 kmph in five seconds, making it a peppy vehicle to drive around the urban jungle

The electric car is under testing and will be ready by early 2024 for the commercial launch.Vayve Mobility will start rolling out Eva next year in Pune and Bangalore. The prices for bookings and accessories, including the car itself, will be announced later.