Solar EVs are a ray of hope for cutting emissions

Japan Times

3 days ago

Whether by land, sea or air, transportation remains one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, representing more than a fifth of the total.
Climate change-inducing pollution is set to rise as urbanization accelerates and demand for travel increases, particularly in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).
Transport-related emissions in these countries remain disproportionately high despite relatively low vehicle ownership rates — sometimes as few as 30 vehicles per 1,000 residents in parts of Africa, for example. This is largely due to the prevalence of old, inefficient vehicles running on substandard fuels.
The situation is further strained by inadequate infrastructure, aging vehicle fleets, and a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, which not only raises costs but also exposes these nations to energy insecurity.
Together, rising emissions, fragile energy infrastructure and mounting economic pressures create a dangerous mix that threatens sustainable development goals, undermines public health and weakens resilience in these already vulnerable regions.
But in this challenge lies an opportunity: solar-powered electric vehicles (SEVs). The electrification of transport, a potent strategy to address climate change, is gaining momentum, with over 38 countries committing to no less than 30% zero-emission newly sold medium— and heavy-duty trucks by 2030. For LDCs and SIDS, harnessing the drive for electrification using what is often their richest natural endowment — sunshine — could represent a breakthrough.
In contrast to conventional electric vehicles — heavily dependent on grid charging, which is still fossil fuel-based in most of these countries — solar EVs draw power directly from the sun.
This not only lightens the load of already overloaded power grids but lowers expensive fuel imports, reduces emissions and improves energy independence, even in the world's most remote regions.
A total cost of ownership analysis conducted by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an intergovernmental organization working to accelerate access to clean energy, shows that solar-powered EVs can compete favorably with gasoline and diesel cars over their lifespan.
Globally, however, the rate of SEV adoption remains quite low. While the technology offers clear environmental and energy benefits, it faces several bottlenecks, including high upfront costs, limited availability of models and technological constraints — such as the efficiency of onboard solar panels and their ability to meet the full energy demands of larger vehicles or in less sunny climates.
Battery technology, weight and durability also remain challenges, particularly when solar panels are integrated into the vehicle itself. In addition, manufacturing scale is still small, meaning SEVs remain niche products, and the lack of standardized regulations and consumer awareness holds back mass market penetration.
Despite these barriers, promising real-world applications are already illustrating SEVs' potential. The Lightyear One solar car, for example, can charge up to 70 kilometers of additional range every day through its integrated solar panels, decreasing grid reliance and cutting emissions by as much as 84% over gasoline vehicles.
In Uganda, AfricroozE solar-powered e-bikes are providing low-cost, clean transportation solutions to areas once lacking in infrastructure, while India's Aditya solar ferry has achieved considerable cost reductions.
ISA's latest report, "Readiness Assessment for Solar-Powered Electric Mobility," launched at the World Expo 2025 at Osaka, presents an overall action plan for policy, technology and commercial readiness to harness SEVs' advantages. The report finds that while a few SIDS have emerged as pioneers in this field, other countries are more likely to be accelerators, early adopters or potential adopters, with stark regional disparities.
This highlights the need for targeted investment and support. For example, solar ferries — whose operating costs are three times lower than those of their diesel counterparts — present a particularly compelling opportunity for vulnerable island nations.
On the positive side, all countries assessed have made some kind of net-zero commitment and many have set targets for transport electrification. However, coherent policy frameworks that incorporate solar energy into national and local transport planning are still missing.
Although some countries lead in battery manufacturing, material refining and vehicle assembly, the majority of LDCs and SIDS do not have domestic manufacturing or recycling capabilities.
For these countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more sustainable and cheaper transport, integrated policies will be needed, such as linking energy, transport and climate ministries, regional cooperation, localizing vehicle design to specific geographies and tax benefits including import duty exemptions.
For example, ISA is helping its 123 member countries, especially LDCs and SIDS, to scale solar e-mobility through two main channels: solar-powered charging infrastructure and vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) technology, which converts solar energy directly on the vehicle.
Governments, development banks, private investors and communities need to come together to advocate for solar-powered e-mobility as the next clean energy frontier.
Time is running out. Confronted with mounting transport emissions and increasing energy insecurity, LDCs and SIDS can't afford incremental gains. They need to harness their sunshine to generate clean miles, converting weaknesses into strengths, not only to achieve their climate objectives but build a more just and prosperous future for their citizens.
Ashish Khanna is director general of the International Solar Alliance, a global intergovernmental organization promoting affordable and sustainable solar energy solutions by supporting governments in driving carbon-neutral policies. Mridula Bharadwaj is program lead of Solar E-Mobility, Storage and Green Hydrogen within the ISA-Asian Development Bank technical assistance program.