BMW teams up with Clemson University to put solar mobility to test

The marque recently worked with graduate students at Clemson University to build Deep Orange 17, a solar-integrated electric vehicle prototype. Image credit: BMW

German automaker BMW headed to South Carolina for its latest efficiency experiment.

The marque recently worked with graduate students at Clemson University to build Deep Orange 17, a solar-integrated electric vehicle prototype. Unveiled in Greenville, the two-door coupe, designed alongside members of BMW’s research and development team, is engineered to generate more energy than it consumes over a typical day of urban commuting.

“This is a project we’ve wanted to pursue for years, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see this group of students come together over the last two years, overcome so many technical challenges and constraints, and bring an energy-positive vehicle to life,” said Stephan Augustin, project manager of research and new technologies at BMW, in a statement.

Next-gen engineering

A challenge that BMW initially set in fall 2024 has come to life: more than 1,700 photovoltaic cells cover the prototype’s exterior, collecting sunlight both while the car is moving and during the long periods when it is parked.

Developed with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, the panels can continue generating power when sections are shaded.

Students modeled performance in Greenville, South Carolina; Frankfurt, Germany; Madrid, Spain and Mumbai, India to account for different levels of sunlight.

Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE supported the project. Image credit: BMW

Based on a daily commute of 12 miles, Deep Orange 17 produced enough surplus solar energy to provide an average of 31 additional miles of driving range across the four locations.

Keeping energy needs low required reducing weight as well as producing power. Deep Orange 17 weighs 1,212 pounds and combines structural steel with aluminum, carbon fiber and 3D-printed metal joints, while regenerative braking and drivetrain controls help recover and conserve energy.

Its two-door body, named Luminetta, takes aerodynamic cues from the boxfish while referencing BMW design history. Inside, a custom interface provides vehicle data alongside Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

BMW has served as the primary sponsor of five Deep Orange projects as part of a Clemson relationship that stretches more than two decades.

Research on the prototype will continue at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, with Deep Orange 17 also set to appear at CES 2027 in Las Vegas.