en.Wedoany.com Reported - Easee, a provider of smart electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, in collaboration with Renault, has completed the first journey from Land's End to John O'Groats powered entirely by solar energy using a production EV. The five-day, 1,000-mile Easee Sun Run expedition demonstrated the feasibility of combining solar power, battery storage, and smart EV charging to drive long-distance electric travel without relying on grid electricity.
The journey, conducted during the longest daylight period of the year, used a Renault 4 E-Tech electric plein sud™ techno+ model, with its power derived entirely from solar energy. Throughout the expedition, the vehicle was charged via an Easee Charge Pro three-phase EV charger connected to existing solar installations and a portable solar-powered battery energy storage system, without drawing any electricity from the traditional grid.
The project integrated renewable energy generation, mobile battery storage, and smart charging infrastructure into a flexible clean energy ecosystem. Easee stated that the initiative highlights the growing maturity of technologies enabling EVs to operate on locally produced renewable electricity. Anthony Fernandez, CEO of Easee, noted that the project demonstrates the current capabilities of clean mobility by connecting EVs, renewable energy generation, and storage into an intelligent ecosystem, adding that technologies such as smart home charging and large-scale charging solutions for commercial fleets are already commercially viable.
The journey selected the Renault 4 E-Tech electric plein sud™ techno+ model, equipped with a 52 kWh battery, a 150-horsepower electric powertrain, and a WLTP-certified range of up to 242 miles. The model's "plein sud™" name, meaning "due south," reflects the optimal orientation for solar panels in the Northern Hemisphere. The expedition began near Land's End, with the vehicle and a portable battery storage unit fully charged using solar power before departure. During the journey, the team replenished energy through a coordinated network of solar photovoltaic installations and pre-charged portable battery systems set up along the route.
The Easee Sun Run also highlighted several renewable energy projects across the UK. The team celebrated the summer solstice near Stonehenge, visited the UK's first commercial solar farm in Chard, Somerset, and demonstrated how off-grid solar installations can transform Whaley Bridge Cricket Club in Derbyshire into a community energy hub. The route also included visits to Swansea University, where researchers are developing flexible, rollable solar materials, and Durham University, where researchers are advancing ultra-efficient solar vehicle technology. In Scotland, the expedition stopped at a solar pyramid near Edinburgh before concluding at Dunrobin Castle, where local residents use solar power and battery storage to support off-grid residential and commercial operations.
Easee stated that its smart charging platform dynamically adjusts EV charging based on available renewable electricity, enabling drivers to maximize the use of locally generated solar power. The company noted that this UK demonstration project builds on a previous solar EV charging project in Canada's Northwest Territories, which successfully supported electric mobility using portable solar power and battery storage under subarctic winter conditions. By completing the route from Land's End to John O'Groats using only solar electricity, Easee and Renault have proven that commercial solar power, battery storage, smart charging, and production EV technologies can be combined to support long-distance, zero-grid-emission electric travel under real-world operating conditions.
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