Our story
Julian and James Field, a father and son team were inspired by the idea that solar powered vehicles might be a practical possibility for everyday use. In the autumn of 2013 they began to design a proof of concept vehicle stipulating that it had to be practical, affordable and road legal. In early 2014 their design was complete and by the summer a prototype, named SPV1, began to undergo road testing.
SPV1 performed better than expected, achieving workable top speeds and a useful range. Its battery had a re-charge time of 3 hours under normal daylight conditions offering freedom from charge points. Higher top speeds could be reached by increasing motor power and greater ranges achieved by adding battery capacity.
Modelling work carried out demonstrated that in countries where solar irradiation is higher than 5 kWh/m2 throughout the year, solar electric cars can meet much of the transport needs that are currently being provided by highly polluting ICE vehicles.
Encouraged by the performance of SPV1 and recognising the commercial potential of a solar car, the pair founded Solar Transport Systems and began work on a production vehicle. Ten years and over 10,000 engineering hours later the INTI was born. Named after the ancient Inca sun god, a prototype of the INTI is in pre-production testing. In 2023 the business moved to Florida and production is planned to start in early 2025.
The INTI in numbers
10 years in development
50+ engineers, designers and technicians
19 nationalities
Over 10,000 engineering hours
Top speed: Configurable from 20mph to 60mph (40km/h to 96km/h) depending on local regulations
Weight: 400kg (880lbs)
Range: Unlimited with solar charging (subject to user's location and driving style); 70 miles (100km) range using battery charge only
Plug-in charging: The INTI can be fully charged in 5 hours using a standard 110V/220V AC household socket
CO2 emissions: None
Fuel cost: None
The team
We would like to acknowledge our fantastic team of engineers, designers and technicians
