Renault has completed a staggering challenge by having an electric car travel from John O’Groats to Land’s End using only solar power.
A Renault 4 E-Tech was able to make the 1,000-mile journey, despite only being powered by solar energy in a staggering technological display.
The “Plein Sud” variant aimed to follow the sun during the summer solstice along the length of Great Britain.
Along the journey, the Renault 4 E-Tech made use of solar power at commercial solar farms and even off-grid communities.
The first stop saw the Renault team spend some time at Roskilly’s Ice Cream in Cornwall, where solar panels help the business keep operating.
This was followed by the UK’s oldest commercial solar farm at Chard Junction, where the Renault 4 recharged for the first time since leaving Land’s End.
In Derbyshire, the team saw how Whaley Bridge Cricket Club used solar power to run fully off-grid, while still completely powering the pavilion.
Another significant stop saw the vehicle rest at Swansea University, where Power Roll is developing rollable solar films.
The Renault 4 E-Tech was able to travel from John O’Groats to Land’s End using only solar power
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This makes use of photovoltaic technology and allows people to make use of solar on surfaces and spaces that would not typically work for traditional panels.
Project leader Jeremy Hart said: “You set out thinking this is about getting from one end of the country to the other, but it quickly becomes about everything in between.
“One stop is a solar farm doing exactly what you’d expect, the next is a cricket club running itself off grid, then you’re looking at research that could change how solar works altogether.
“Each stop adds something different, and by the time you reach the end, you realise the car has been picking up that same energy all along and quietly turning it into miles.”
The adventure saw the Renault 4 travel the length of Britain without drawing electricity from the grid
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The Renault 4 E-Tech made use of a variant of solar projects along the journey
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RENAULT
Once the team reached Scotland, they stopped at a “solar pyramid” south of Edinburgh, which symbolised “how far the technology has come”.
The nationwide drive also saw off-grid homes and businesses using solar generation to live and work independently on the east coast of Scotland.
Renault explained that the energy came from a combination of established solar installations and portable solar-charged energy storage.
This was delivered via a Charge Pro three-phase EV charger provided by Easee, meaning the drive from one end of Britain to the other without drawing electricity from the grid.