Easee, a provider of smart EV charging solutions, and Renault have successfully completed the Easee Sun Run, the first fully solar-powered journey by a production electric vehicle from Land’s End to John O’Groats. The five-day, 1,000-mile expedition demonstrated the viability of integrating solar energy, battery storage, and intelligent EV charging to power long-distance electric mobility without relying on grid electricity.
Timed to coincide with the longest days of the year, the journey featured a Renault 4 E-Tech electric plein sud™ techno+, which was powered exclusively using electricity generated from solar energy. Throughout the expedition, the vehicle was charged via an Easee Charge Pro three-phase EV charger connected to a combination of established solar installations and portable solar-charged battery storage systems. No electricity from the conventional power grid was used during the entire route.
The initiative showcased how renewable energy generation, mobile battery storage, and smart charging infrastructure can be integrated into a flexible clean-energy ecosystem to support sustainable transportation. Easee said the project highlights the growing maturity of technologies that enable electric vehicles to operate using locally generated renewable electricity.
Anthony Fernandez, CEO of Easee, said the project demonstrates what clean mobility is capable of today by connecting electric vehicles, renewable energy generation, and energy storage into a single intelligent ecosystem. He added that technologies such as smart home charging and scalable charging solutions for commercial fleets are already commercially available, making clean transport more resilient and accessible for consumers and businesses.
The Renault 4 E-Tech electric plein sud™ techno+ was selected for the journey due to its 52 kWh battery, 150 hp electric powertrain, and WLTP-certified driving range of up to 242 miles. The vehicle’s “plein sud™” designation, meaning “due south,” reflects the optimal orientation for solar panels in the Northern Hemisphere.
The expedition began near Land’s End, where both the vehicle and one of the portable battery storage units were charged entirely using solar energy before departing northward. During the journey, the team replenished energy through a coordinated network of solar PV installations and pre-charged portable battery systems positioned along the route.
Beyond demonstrating solar-powered transportation, the Easee Sun Run highlighted several renewable energy projects across the United Kingdom. The team marked the summer solstice near Stonehenge, visited the UK’s first commercial solar farm in Chard, Somerset, and showcased how an off-grid solar installation has transformed Whaley Bridge Cricket Club in Derbyshire into a community energy hub.
The route also included visits to Swansea University, where researchers are developing flexible and rollable solar materials, and Durham University, where researchers are advancing ultra-efficient solar-powered vehicle technologies. In Scotland, the expedition stopped at a solar pyramid near Edinburgh before concluding with a visit to Dunrobin Castle, where local residents utilize solar generation and battery storage to support off-grid homes and business operations.
Easee stated that its smart charging platform dynamically adjusts EV charging according to available renewable electricity, enabling drivers to maximize the use of locally generated solar energy. The company noted that the UK demonstration builds upon its previous solar-powered EV charging project conducted in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where portable solar generation and battery storage successfully supported electric mobility under sub-Arctic winter conditions.
By completing the Land’s End to John O’Groats route using only solar-generated electricity, Easee and Renault demonstrated that commercially available solar, battery storage, smart charging, and production electric vehicle technologies can be combined to support long-distance, zero-grid-emission electric travel under real-world operating conditions.
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