Since Tesla CEO Elon Musk first announced the Cybertruck in 2019, the promise of a solar roof capable of adding miles of range has lingered as an unfulfilled aspiration. Musk envisioned solar cells integrated into the truck’s bed, potentially generating 15 miles of range daily, with extendable “fold-out wings” offering even more.
However, years later, this concept seems more like an engineering challenge lost to time.
At CES 2025, a California-based company, Sunflare, showcased a potential solution: its Solar Car Film. This innovative product uses copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells to wrap the Cybertruck in power-generating panels. According to Sunflare, the system includes a 5 kW battery inverter and carries a price tag of $10,000.
The potential range added by the wrap remains speculative. Back-of-the-envelope estimates suggest 12 to 18 miles per day under ideal conditions. While modest, this could appeal to adventurers and off-grid campers who value renewable energy access.

Solar technology on vehicles is not new, but its practicality has often been limited. For example, the solar panels on Toyota’s Prius Prime provide only a few miles of range daily, requiring prolonged exposure to full sunlight. Similarly, Sunflare’s wrap might help offset “vampire drain” — the gradual battery discharge when the vehicle is idle — but it’s unlikely to transform the Cybertruck into a long-range EV powerhouse.
With the Cybertruck’s weight of 6,600 pounds and an average real-world range of 230 miles per charge, adding a few miles through solar energy doesn’t address its relative inefficiency compared to competitors. Still, in niche scenarios like overlanding or remote camping, a steady, renewable energy source could offer convenience and sustainability.

While the idea of a solar-powered Cybertruck remains attractive, whether Sunflare’s solar wrap evolves into a practical and widely adopted product remains uncertain.
For now, the concept represents an intriguing step toward integrating renewable energy with next-gen EVs.