The SUN-TRANS (Solar Urban e-Mobility Transition) Project, supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe Program, officially started on November 13, 2025 with the opening meeting held at TÜBİTAK MAM Energy Technologies Vice Presidency Ankara Campus. The project, coordinated by TÜBİTAK MAM, will be implemented for four years with the participation of 14 institutions from 7 countries.
The inaugural meeting was organized as a hybrid hosted by TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center. The participation of Prof. Dr. Burcu ÖZSOY, President of TÜBİTAK MAM, in the meeting once again emphasized the institutional importance given to the project and the contributions of our country in the field of sustainable mobility.
Purpose and Scope of the Project
SUN-TRANS aims to develop innovative technologies for the effective use of solar energy in urban transportation. In this context, the project;
- vehicle integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) solutions,
- high efficiency power electronics,
- artificial intelligence-based fleet optimization
to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in electric buses and last-mile distribution vehicles.
Pilot Implementation Areas
The project will be implemented in three pilot cities:
- Alba Iulia (Romania): Integration of solar electric bus and PV-based charging infrastructure.
- Izmir (Turkey) : VIPV integration and AI-powered scheduling and route optimization in an electric bus fleet.
- Bilbao (Spain): Implementation of solar-assisted electric vehicle and compact PV charging unit in last mile distribution vehicles.
Consortium Structure
SUN-TRANS is led by a broad European consortium of research centers, technology companies, local authorities, transport organizations and universities. During the project, joint development activities, field tests, data analysis and impact assessments will be carried out.
Future Vision
SUN-TRANS aims to set an exemplary model in Europe in terms of disseminating renewable energy-based solutions for sustainable urban transportation. The findings from the pilot applications are expected to contribute to the development of scalable and applicable next generation e-mobility solutions in European cities.
As TÜBİTAK MAM, we are very pleased to lead this visionary project supported by the European Union Horizon Europe Program and thank all project partners for their cooperation.
