SolarMobil Team Background

SMS-1

India's First Four-Seater Family Solar Passenger Car

SolarMobil's SM S-1 solar car, a four-seater passenger vehicle, showing its side profile and solar panel roof.

Specifications

Range (Single Charge)
160 km
Chassis
AISI 1018 steel; Hybrid-ladder and spaceframe chassis
Body Material
Glass fibre reinforced composite
Solar Array Area
4.5 m²
Battery
Li-ion cells; 19 kWh
Motor Configuration
Two AC motors via drive shafts
Drive Type
Front-wheel drive
Braking System
Hydraulic, Wilwood four-piston calipers

Description

SolarMobil Series-1 (SM-S1), launched as the team's third prototype, holds the distinction of being India's first four-seater solar passenger vehicle. Designed in a 2x2 seating arrangement, SM-S1 blends practicality with sustainability, achieving a range of 160 km per charge while maintaining clean, silent, and efficient performance.

Built on a hybrid chassis combining ladder and space frame structures made from AISI 1018 steel, the car balances strength, safety, and lightness. Its Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) body and aerodynamic coefficient of 0.3 ensure superior efficiency. Powered by a 4.5 m² solar array provided by Tata Solar and an in-house 19 kWh Li-ion battery pack, SM-S1 exemplifies indigenous innovation and student engineering excellence.

The vehicle features a custom-built single-speed gearbox, twin AC motors, and front-wheel drive, offering smooth and efficient motion. Its hydraulic braking system with Wilwood four-piston callipers, along with student-developed suspension and handbrake systems, highlights the team's deep hands-on expertise in mechanical and electrical design — marking another remarkable milestone in SolarMobil's pursuit of sustainable mobility.

Address:

Techshila, Workshop 07, Opp. Recreation Center
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal,
Udupi, Karnataka - 576 104.

Contact Us:

Team Manager
Varun Jayram
+91 7208481971

Email: team.solarmobil@gmail.com