MASK Architects has unveiled what’s described as “the world’s first fully solar-powered autonomous motorcycle,” known as the Solaris, which is designed to operate without fuel, electrical grids or commercial charging infrastructure.
According to the architectural firm, the project is “currently advancing through the progressive design and engineering stages,” MASK Architects told Newsweek in a statement.
“We are collaborating with AQH Italy, a high-tech engineering and technology company established together with MASK Architects and co-founded by two aerospace engineers. Through this partnership, Solaris is now moving into detailed engineering and prototype preparation.”
The firm said Solaris differs fundamentally from other solar-powered vehicles.
“What makes Solaris unique and more advanced than other solar-powered vehicles is that it is not designed as a conventional solar-assisted product but as the world’s first fully self-charging mobility invention,” the company told Newsweek.
Unlike designs that rely on flat panels, Solaris uses “a curved, 360-degree photovoltaic skin that captures light from multiple directions throughout the day,” the company said.
Its hybrid charging approach and architectural mindset are key to that distinction. The firm explained: “Its body itself functions as an energy-producing architecture—a concept that comes from our background in architectural innovation—where the form becomes the functional charging surface.” Combined with lightweight aerospace materials, the company said this enables efficiency beyond that of typical electric motorcycles.
Solaris’ form and function were shaped by biological inspiration rather than conventional vehicle design trends. The company said the motorcycle’s design was “also inspired by the leopard—its anatomical efficiency, its muscular aerodynamic body, and its ability to reach high speed with minimal wasted energy,” and this “helped us shape the functional logic of Solaris—agile, powerful, lightweight, and engineered to break limits just as the leopard does.”
At the center of Solaris is a hybrid energy system. “Solaris can be fully solar-powered thanks to a multi-layered hybrid energy system that we designed specifically for this project,” the company told Newsweek. “It does not rely on a single solar surface but instead integrates several complementary technologies that work together to generate, harvest, and manage energy continuously.”
The motorcycle’s exterior plays a central role in that system. “The motorcycle’s body is wrapped in a highly efficient curved photovoltaic skin that captures sunlight from multiple angles throughout the day, unlike traditional flat panels,” the company said.
Additionally, Solaris incorporates an expandable feature for when it is stationary.
“Solaris includes an optional extendable solar layer foldable wings inspired by nature that open when parked to maximize charging capacity and close seamlessly into the body when riding,” the company said.
Energy generation does not stop when the motorcycle is moving.
“While in motion, the motorcycle produces additional micro-energy through movement and vibration, and it also recovers energy during braking and deceleration, similar to advanced electric systems,” MASK Architects said.
These energy sources are coordinated through software. “All of this is supported by an intelligent battery and AI-driven energy management system that redistributes power based on riding conditions, solar exposure, and user needs.”
The company said this integrated approach allows Solaris to function independently.
“In essence, Solaris operates through a hybrid, symbiotic charging system where the body, motion, and management technology work together, allowing it to function without fuel, without electrical grids, and without any dependency on commercial charging networks,” the company said.
Weight reduction was a priority throughout the design process.
“Solaris is designed to be significantly lighter than what is expected from a solar-powered vehicle, because weight is a critical factor for energy efficiency and autonomy,” MASK Architects said. “From the beginning, our goal was to create a motorcycle that remains agile, high-performance, and extremely lightweight—despite integrating a complete solar-charging system.”
To achieve that balance, the firm selected materials typically associated with aerospace and advanced mobility applications.
“Solaris is built from a combination of high-performance, lightweight materials typically used in aerospace and advanced mobility systems,” the company said.
The main structure relies on carbon-fiber composites. Other materials were chosen for durability and efficiency.
“Selective structural components incorporate lightweight aluminum alloys to ensure durability without adding unnecessary mass,” the company said.
The solar components are fully integrated into the structure.
“Beyond technology, what truly sets Solaris apart is its philosophy—it was inspired by problems, not by trends,” the company said. “We wanted to create true freedom for people—freedom from dependency, from cost per kilometer, and from waiting for energy.”
According to the company, Solaris represents “a new category of mobility created by architects who invent technologies, not just design shapes,” a mindset it says allows the motorcycle “to break the conventional limits of what a motorcycle can be.”
