Sono Motors GmbH, the Munich-based solar technology company, announces that it has become the first company in Germany to receive national road approval in the form of a General Operating Permit (ABE) or National Type Approval (TTG) for its retrofit Solar Bus Kit. This certification is the first of its kind in Germany for vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (ViPV) and marks a milestone for the expansion and use of ViPV in Europe and for Sustainable Mobility, according to Sono.
The Sono Motor Solar Bus Kit is a retrofit solution that installs photovoltaic modules on the roofs of buses. The energy generated is fed directly into the vehicle’s electrical system, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while increasing energy efficiency. With the ABE or TTG, Sono Motors believes its Solar Bus Kit can now more easily obtain national road approvals in other countries adhering to the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) framework. The Solar Bus Kit received the General Operating Permit after extensive testing by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt- Bundesamt, KBA) in collaboration with the Technical Inspection Association (TÜV). The Solar Bus Kit is now included in the KBA’s "green list" and represents a significant step toward climate-friendly mobility by reducing diesel consumption, lower CO₂ emissions, and improve the range of buses by reducing the load on the alternator as Sono Motors states. “The receipt of the General Operating Permit for our Solar Bus Kit is a milestone for Sono Motors and the entire industry,” said Denis Azhar, Managing Director. “With this achievement, we are setting new standards for sustainable mobility and once again proving our capacity for innovation.”