There is a part of the world where talking about sustainable mobility means dealing with a concrete reality made up of difficult roads, poor infrastructure and energy costs that weigh on people’s lives every day. In this context, solar cars in Tunisia do not represent a futuristic exercise, but a pragmatic, almost inevitable response to a widespread need.
Here innovation is not measured in speed or futuristic design, but in the ability to really work, every day, even without charging stations. And it is precisely from this point that a project destined to change the way we think about energy and travel takes shape.
A simple yet revolutionary idea
In much of the African continent, the spread of electric cars faces a clear obstacle: the almost total absence of charging infrastructure. A limit that, elsewhere, is circumvented with public and private investments, while here it requires a change of perspective.
Solar cars in Tunisia are born precisely from this awareness. Instead of chasing Western models that are difficult to replicate, Bako Motors has chosen to enhance an already available, abundant and constant resource: the sun. The vehicles produced by the company integrate photovoltaic panels on the roof, capable of transforming every hour of light into real autonomy.
The result is surprising in its simplicity. A day under the sun allows you to get up to 50 kilometers of free travel, a distance which, in urban everyday life, covers most trips. On an annual basis, this means exceeding 17,000 kilometers without energy costs, with a direct impact on family expenses and local activities.
The solar cells, as explained by founder Boubaker Siala, can cover more than half of the vehicle’s energy needs. This data tells much more than a simple technological innovation: it describes a model of energy independence that adapts perfectly to contexts where electricity is not always accessible or stable.
In this scenario, Africa is preparing for an important transition. The electric vehicle market, still marginal today, is destined to grow rapidly in the coming years, reaching economic values of several billion dollars. Solar cars could represent the decisive piece to make this transition truly inclusive.
Affordable prices, local production and an already concrete industrial vision
The most interesting aspect of solar cars in Tunisia concerns their accessibility. These are not prototypes intended for a few, but vehicles already in production, designed to enter the daily lives of citizens and workers.
The B-Van, for example, is a commercial vehicle designed for urban deliveries and artisanal activities. It can carry up to approximately 360 kilograms of cargo and achieves an overall range of more than 160 miles. It moves between markets, shops and city streets, adapting to lively contexts such as those of Sidi Bou Said, where tradition and everyday life intertwine.
Alongside this model we find the Bee, a small two-seater city car, essential and functional, designed for urban travel. The price is one of the most significant elements: around 6,200 dollars, while the B-Van is around 8,500 dollars. Figures that make these vehicles accessible to a much wider audience than the standards of the global electricity market.
Performance doesn’t try to compete with that of the fastest traditional cars. The priority is another: guaranteeing reliability, reducing costs and offering a concrete solution to those who use the vehicle every day to work or travel. In this sense, even a moderate speed becomes an acceptable compromise.
A key element of the project concerns production. Around 40% of the materials used come directly from Africa, including lithium iron phosphate batteries and steel. This choice strengthens the local economy and helps build a more autonomous supply chain, reducing dependence on imports.
From an industrial point of view, the most complex phase has already been overcome. The production plants are ready and the objective is clear: to produce 8,000 vehicles, initially intended for the African market and subsequently also for export to Europe. The potential is enormous. The African market could absorb up to 1 million vehicles per year, and Bako Motors aims to capture a significant share of this, between 5% and 10%.
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