SRTI Park welcomes world’s first solar-powered car manufacturer

Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park) is partnering with Lightyear, a Netherland-based company building the world’s first solar-powered car.

With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations, Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park serves as a hub for the incubation of tech startups. The partnership will boost UAE’s status for eco-friendly transport options and help Lightyear in expanding its international reach. The collaboration will also highlight SRTI Park’s expanding international significance.

This alliance supports the UAE’s efforts to combat global warming, participate in collective climate action, and work toward achieving its Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

Both companies are seeking to create sustainable mobility. This means that Lightyear could establish testing, sales, and service support facilities in the region. This will be lightyear’s first base outside of the Netherlands.

In addition, the companies hope to establish university research exchange programs on solar-powered electric vehicles (EVs) and advance policy initiatives that promote government incentives for EVs, including solar-extended EVs.

The presence of Lightyear at SRTI Park, according to Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTI Park, strengthens the UAE’s position as a nation at the forefront of the transition to sustainable mobility. He went on to say that it contributes to climate change mitigation through innovative technologies and that the UAE is already the world’s third-largest producer of solar power, making it the ideal location to test Lightyear’s patented solar technology.

Lightyear evolved from a world championship-winning car racing team to experts in energy efficiency, using its knowledge of solar-powered cars to create the first-of-its-kind solar-powered car, Lightyear 0.

Lightyear 0 is production-ready and has the potential to change the automotive industry. The car can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 10 seconds and has a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour.