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The van

Electric conversion

An old combustion van transformed into a 100% electric vehicle through retrofit.

Electric conversion

Rather than producing a new vehicle, Soleva relies on retrofit: keeping a 1987 Peugeot J9, removing the combustion engine and tank, and integrating a complete electric powertrain. This approach extends the vehicle's lifespan and reduces the impact related to manufacturing.

Inside the prototype

First prototype specifications

The overview states a 250 km range, 5 kW of solar power, 24 m² of deployed surface and room for 3 people. A full solar charge is stated as 11 hours, or roughly two average days in central Europe.

Four ways to charge

Solar, 6.6 kW AC charging (9 h), 50 kW DC charging (1 h 20) and downhill energy recovery. The schematic specifies 8 Volkswagen batteries, 58 kWh at 400 V, a Nissan Leaf motor and inverter, and over 300 km at 80 km/h. This last figure describes a different condition from the overview’s 250 km range.

Before and after the retrofit

To demonstrate that our solar electric conversion is possible with any car, we selected a particularly old (more than 35 years in circulation) iconic Peugeot J9 van for our prototype. It was an era where vehicles were built without a ton of unnecessary add-ons and features, making it relatively light-weight. It's heaviest element: the 190kg diesel engine.

The conversion in pictures

Key characteristics

  • Combustion engine replaced by an electric motor (Nissan Leaf)
  • 8 refurbished Volkswagen battery modules — 58 kWh at 400 V
  • Estimated range: around 250 km
  • On-board control architecture and energy management
  • 81% lower carbon footprint compared with a conventional diesel van

Our approach

  1. 01

    Remove all thermal elements

    All polluting, oil containing elements like the engine, the exhaust and the fuel tank are removed from the van.

  2. 02

    Integrate the electric components

    An electric motor is significantly lighter, cleaner and simpler. All devices are integrated to the existing vehicle system.

  3. 03

    Incorporate the battery pack

    Integrate the battery modules underneath the vehicle. We use refurbished but fully functional batteries for the highest sustainability.

  4. 04

    Add the deployable solar array

    The roof surface gets filled with high efficiency and light-weight solar panels that can be deployed and tilted to maximize the energy.

  5. 05

    Transform the interior to a sustainable habitat

    In a last step, the living space gets integrated into the vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

Why convert an old van instead of buying a new electric vehicle?

Retrofit reuses an existing vehicle, avoids the environmental impact of manufacturing a new one and extends the life of resources already produced. It is a concrete, circular approach.

What is the range of the van?

The estimated range is around 250 km thanks to the batteries, with the possibility of recharging via the on-board solar panels or charging stations.

The other pillars

On-board solar system

A deployable photovoltaic roof to produce the energy of the journey directly from the sun.

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Habitat

Our living space lacks none of the key elements of a real home: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room. The difference lies in the reused materials and the intelligent integrations.

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Figures published by Soleva for the first prototype. Performance depends on driving and sunlight conditions.

A question about the van?

Our team will be happy to answer your technical questions or present the project.

Contact us