Stellantis launches solar-powered EV charging station pilot in Morocco

07:30

By: Azzat Manal

Stellantis launches solar-powered EV charging station pilot in Morocco

Stellantis has launched a pilot project in Morocco to test a fully off-grid charging station powered exclusively by solar energy, marking a new step in the automotive group's efforts to explore more flexible solutions for electric mobility.

The initiative is being developed through Stellantis' internal entrepreneurship program, Star*Up, in partnership with Moroccan renewable energy company Solar Power. The project is designed to address one of the main challenges facing electric vehicle adoption: access to charging infrastructure in locations where connection to the conventional electricity grid is limited or unavailable.

The pilot phase is expected to run for one year, allowing the companies to evaluate the station under real operating conditions and collect feedback from users. The results will be used to assess the technology's performance and determine how it could potentially be deployed at additional locations in Morocco and elsewhere in the region.

The first commercial-scale station has been installed at Stellantis' Motor Village facility in Bouskoura. The location will serve as a testing ground for a system intended to combine renewable energy generation, battery storage and intelligent energy management without relying on the public electricity network.

The charging station uses photovoltaic panels installed on a solar canopy to generate electricity. Excess production is stored in batteries, allowing the system to continue supplying energy after sunset and providing greater flexibility in managing charging demand.

According to the project specifications, the installation can provide daily charging capacity for up to eight plug-in hybrid electric vehicles or three fully electric vehicles. It is equipped with four alternating-current charging points for electric and plug-in hybrid cars as well as light electric mobility devices, with charging power for electric vehicles reaching up to 19 kilowatts.

An energy management system controls electricity generation, storage and distribution. By coordinating these elements, the technology is intended to optimize the use of available solar power and maintain a reliable charging service throughout the day.

One of the system's main features is its plug-and-play design. Because it does not require a connection to the electricity grid, the solution could be adapted to remote areas and sites where conventional charging infrastructure would be difficult or expensive to install.

Potential applications include logistics platforms, isolated workplaces, tourism and hospitality facilities, as well as rural communities. Such locations could benefit from an autonomous charging system capable of producing and storing its own electricity.

The installation is also designed to support light electric mobility. In addition to vehicle charging points, it includes two conventional 230-volt electrical outlets that can be used to charge other small electric mobility devices.

The project originated from an idea developed by a Stellantis engineer working in Morocco through the Star*Up program. The initiative is intended to give employees an opportunity to transform innovative concepts into solutions with potential commercial applications.

For Morocco, the experiment comes as the country continues to expand renewable energy capacity and develop its automotive industry. Solar power is particularly relevant to off-grid mobility solutions because the country's climate offers significant solar resources across many regions.

Stellantis' pilot will therefore provide an opportunity to examine whether autonomous solar charging can complement conventional electric vehicle infrastructure. Its results could help identify suitable locations and operating models for expanding this type of technology, particularly in areas where access to the electricity grid remains a challenge.