Hyundai-backed Solarstic embeds solar panels into EV exteriors
Solarstic, an in-house venture spun out of Hyundai Motor Group, is showcasing its vehicle-integrated solar technology at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, highlighting efforts to bring renewable energy directly onto vehicle exteriors.
The company is exhibiting at Eureka Park under the Hyundai Motor Group ZERO1NE Pavilion.
At CES 2026, Solarstic was named a CES Innovation Awards Honoree in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility category for its Injection-Molded Vehicle Solar Module.
The award recognizes the company’s approach to embedding solar power into vehicle exterior components while preserving automotive-grade design and safety standards.
Unlike traditional vehicle solar systems that rely on glass-based panels, Solarstic’s technology replaces glass with lightweight polymer packaging.
This shift reduces weight and opens up more flexibility in vehicle design while enabling solar modules to function as structural exterior parts.
The company says its solution allows solar panels to be integrated directly into the hood, bonnet, and roof of a vehicle.
“Traditionally, solar panels for cars are made with glass, but glass is heavy and limits vehicle design. Our solution uses polymer packaging, which is much lighter and allows for more flexible vehicle designs.”
Solar built into the body
When deployed across multiple exterior surfaces, the system can generate meaningful power.
“We integrate the solar panels into the hood, bonnet, and roof. When combined, they can generate up to 500 watts of power. This can extend an EV’s range by up to 50 miles per day.”
Solarstic says the technology could significantly reduce charging needs depending on driving patterns.
“For short-distance drivers, this means you may not need to charge your EV at all. For long-distance drivers, the system can recharge about 30 percent of the battery while driving.”
The technology has already been validated through proof-of-concept projects on Hyundai vehicles, including the IONIQ 5 and ST1 electric models.
These demonstrations confirm that the solar modules can function under real-world driving conditions on both passenger and commercial vehicles.
However, the product is still under development.
“The product is still in the development stage and has not been launched yet. We are working with Hyundai, and we plan to introduce a solar-equipped vehicle in the future, possibly within the next one to two years.”
Engineering durability challenges ahead
Manufacturing remains one of the biggest hurdles. “The key technical challenge is manufacturing. Polymer packaging requires injection molding, which normally uses high pressure. Solar cells are fragile and can easily break under pressure.”
To address this, Solarstic developed a new packaging approach.
“We developed a protective layer design along with a low-pressure injection technology. This allows us to package the solar cells without damaging them.”
The company is also focused on aesthetics and safety.
“The solar module has a glass-like appearance, and the solar cells are visible underneath. However, many people prefer not to see the solar cells clearly, so we focus on a black finish that hides them unless you look closely.”
Safety and durability are key concerns for exterior components.
“Because the system is integrated into exterior parts like the hood and roof, safety is important. Glass is very hard, but polymer packaging is softer, which makes it safer if a person impacts the hood.”
Durability testing is ongoing.
“One of the main engineering challenges is durability. Because this is an exterior component, we must prevent yellowing and surface damage, especially from car washes,” the company said. “We are currently testing anti-scratch and anti-spreading coatings.”
Solarstic’s CES 2026 presence reflects Hyundai Motor Group’s broader ZERO1NE open innovation strategy, aimed at accelerating sustainable mobility technologies.