Man tries world's cheapest solar car and reveals whether he thinks the design will catch on globally

When this man tried out the world’s cheapest solar car, he got to deliver his verdict on whether he thought the design would catch on.

The YouTube channel Everything Electric APAC traveled out to Bangkok, Thailand to lay eyes on the SunV car.

Produced in China by a company called Solarky, this car is already being sold around the world.

But will it stick around for the long run or be a flash in the pan gimmick?

How much the world’s cheapest solar car costs

In this eco-conscious age, we’re increasingly inclined to find environmentally friendly ways of powering the world around us.

In May 2026, the energy source overtook coal in the US in a huge step forward for the eco-energy movement.

And no country has taken to it quite like China, which set a record for expansion levels in 2025.

Whether it’s houses or boats, solar panels seem to be popping up everywhere.

And now cars are catching some rays to keep themselves going.

Plenty of people have tried their hand at making their own, like YouTuber Simon Sörensen.

But the $8,000 SunV is a totally different story, as the YouTube channel Everything Electric APAC was about to discover.

Taking a look at Solarky’s SunV, a solar car for the global market

These compact EVs join together a light body with a small battery and a high-efficiency solar roof.

The 300W solar panel extends from 1.6 meters to 3.2 meters when parked, allowing for the battery to charge while stationary.

On overcast days, 30 to 40 km of range can be added through the panel, which is boosted to 55 km of added range on sunny days.

The interior is fairly minimalist, but serves its purpose, with air conditioning, a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, and a rear camera/radar system.

Four adults can sit in the car, with the rear seats folding down to allow for extra storage room.

The driving dynamics didn’t exactly get rave reviews.

“It’s perfectly adequate for city driving, which is what we’re doing now,” host Elliot Richards said.

“In terms of like suspension play and things like that, yeah, I mean, it could be improved. It’s a little bit crashy, a little bit noisy… so, yeah, you can’t expect much from the handling of this.

“There isn’t much to talk about in terms of the driving ability of this car. It’s adequate. Let’s be honest. It’s adequate. It’s okay. In fact, it’s easy.”

So lukewarm reviews on driving aside, what was the ultimate verdict?

This car is already being sold in countries like Thailand, Tanzania, and Indonesia.

Is it ready for more markets in this reviewer’s opinion?

Is this solar car ready for it global roll-out?

All in all, Richards had a fairly nuanced take on the SunV.

“I’m not going to stand here and tell you this is the perfect solution to everyone’s problems because it’s not,” he said.

“It fits a very specific problem that’s here in Southeast Asia and some African countries.

“But Solarky should be congratulated for thinking outside the box with a plastic body, the solar roof on top because it does solve a specific problem in countries like Thailand.

“And for that, I think they should be congratulated for bringing some innovation into the EV world. So well done, Solarky.”