A solar-powered car that can generate more energy than it uses could be especially intriguing for sun-soaked Texas, where both solar power and electric vehicles are already part of the state’s rapidly changing energy landscape. Clemson University students working with BMW have built Luminetta, a 550-kg prototype covered with more than 1,700 photovoltaic cells that harvest electricity while driving or simply sitting in the sun. Modeling suggests that after a typical 20-km commute, its combination of solar generation, extreme weight reduction and regenerative braking could leave enough surplus energy for roughly 50 km of additional range on average. For Texas drivers accustomed to plenty of sunshine and long distances, the idea has obvious appeal: one day, leaving your car in the sun might be part of charging it rather than just making the seats unbearably hot.