Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Feb 04: In a groundbreaking development, India’s first solar-powered car is set to hit the roads, boasting a new design and enhanced performance. The innovative vehicle has been developed by Bilal Ahmed, a 45-year-old mathematics teacher from Sanat Nagar, Srinagar, who dedicated over a decade to bringing his vision to life.
Bilal, speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Observer, said he began working on this project in 2012, with the first prototype unveiled in 2022. Since then, he has incorporated numerous upgrades, making the car more practical and efficient. His creation has garnered widespread attention for its unique blend of innovation and style.
“I’ve named the car ‘RAY,’ inspired by the mathematical concept where a ray has a starting point but no end. Similarly, this car has a starting point but no end—it runs on solar energy, not fossil fuels,” he explained.
Bilal said the car has a fully automatic system with gullwing doors: The futuristic gullwing doors, he said, are embedded with solar panels, adding both aesthetic appeal and functionality.
It is equipped with monocrystalline solar panels that optimise energy absorption, he said, adding that the car charges efficiently, even in minimal sunlight.
With a dual power system, RAY combines solar energy with a rechargeable battery to ensure smooth operation even during nighttime through an integrated solar power bank.
The car includes autonomous parking sensors for added safety and convenience, and the solar panels adjust their orientation automatically to maximise sunlight capture throughout the day. It has a distinctive feature that adds a futuristic touch to the car’s design, he added.
Bilal claimed that the latest version reflects meticulous improvements in aerodynamics, solar panel efficiency, and overall performance, making it suitable for real-world driving conditions.
“A major Indian company has agreed to manufacture the car, with plans to launch it on Kashmiri roads by June 2025,” Bilal said, adding that he will publicly showcase the vehicle on February 10 ahead of his participation in an international solar energy event in Turkey this April.
“From the beginning until today, I haven’t received any financial assistance from anyone. I managed everything on my own, spending around 22 lakh rupees on this project. But for me, this is more than a personal achievement,” he said.
To safeguard his innovation, Bilal has patented the design and registered his company, Bilal Innovations Solar Automobiles (BISA), under which RAY will be officially launched.
Designed to be affordable for the common people, RAY aims to compete with global solar car brands like Lightyear (Netherlands) and Aptera Motors (USA). Notably, Bilal’s car stands out as the first of its kind in India, filling a gap in the country’s eco-friendly automotive sector.
“I’ve conducted extensive research on luxury car designs from the 1950s onward, focusing on aerodynamics and modern technology. My research has even been published internationally,” Bilal said—(KNO)
