A new ray of energy is shining from India’s heaven, Kashmir. Bilal Ahmad Mir, a mathematics teacher from Srinagar, has built Kashmir’s first solar-powered car, ‘RAY.’ After years of hard work and self-funding, his dream is now a reality. The car will be launched on February 10 and is expected to be on the roads by June this year.
Bilal started working on this project in 2022 with the vision of making clean-energy cars. Despite facing many financial struggles, he did not take money from anyone. He spent ₹20-22 lakh from his own savings to develop this car. He also got attention from big companies like Mahindra, but due to technical challenges, no collaboration happened.
RAY is a 1kW solar-powered car with advanced technology. It has high-performance solar panels, an intelligent battery management system (BMS), and smart sensors for parking. Unlike other electric cars, RAY can charge itself even in cloudy or snowy weather. The car has a five-seater capacity, a solar-battery combination for power, and a charging port near the rear boot.
One of the most special features of RAY is its gull-wing doors, which have built-in solar panels to generate extra power. The car’s sleek design helps reduce air resistance, making it more efficient. The rear lights of the car change according to music, giving it a stylish and modern look.
Bilal has been working on his dream for 13 years. He modified a 1988 Nissan Micra to create this solar car. He studied various luxury car designs since 1950 to make his innovation better. His research has been published in more than six countries, and people have started calling him the ‘Elon Musk of Kashmir’ for his futuristic work.
Business leaders like Anand Mahindra have praised his efforts. Many people admire his innovation on social media. Even in 2022, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commented that this car might even fly one day.
Bilal’s dream is to make eco-friendly cars available for common people. He wanted to design a special car for disabled individuals, but financial issues forced him to stop that project. He believes that with proper financial support, he can revolutionize the automobile industry in Kashmir.
For now, the first solar-powered car from Kashmir is ready to shine like a ray of hope in India’s green future.
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