# DIY Solar Vans Daniel Theobald's DIY Solar Car Project Turns an 1966 Volkswagen Eco-Friendly By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2015-08-05 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-solar-car References: [sustainablog.org](http://sustainablog.org/2015/08/how-to-repurpose-a-volkswagen-bus-into-a-solar-powered-vehicle/) & [evobsession](http://evobsession.com/solar-powered-1966-volkswagen-bus/) Although much of the automotive industry is responsible for creating a lot of waste, there is also a lot of reuse, recycling and repurposing that can take place—as proved by this DIY solar car project. When it was announced that the [Volkswagen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alpincamper) [Camper Vans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2cv) would no longer be produced because they could not be updated to meet modern safety standards, it seemed like this would be the end of this iconic vehicle. However, as the CTO of healthcare IT company Vecna Technologies, Daniel Theobald is proving otherwise. Using a 1966 Volkswagen, Theobald converted the vehicle into a [solar-powered car](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solarpowered-race-vehicle) by strapping a panel to the top. The large size of the solar panel may seem a bit awkward, but reportedly it generates so much energy for the car that it never needs to be plugged into an electric vehicle charging station. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.7/10 - Popularity: 96% | Activity: 96% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **DIY Solar Cars:** The DIY solar car project demonstrates the trend of individuals converting conventional vehicles into eco-friendly and sustainable transportation solutions. - **Reuse and Repurpose in Automotive:** The DIY solar car project highlights the trend of reusing and repurposing existing vehicles to reduce waste and environmental impact in the automotive industry. - **Alternative Energy Vehicles:** The DIY solar car project showcases the trend of utilizing alternative energy sources, such as solar power, to power vehicles and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Automotive:** The DIY solar car project presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the automotive industry by encouraging the development of eco-friendly vehicle conversions and sustainable transportation solutions. - **Renewable Energy:** The DIY solar car project offers disruptive innovation opportunities for the renewable energy industry by promoting the integration of solar power technology into transportation systems. - **Sustainability:** The DIY solar car project provides disruptive innovation opportunities for the sustainability industry by showcasing creative ways of repurposing existing vehicles and reducing carbon footprint. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [All-Electric Camper Van Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alpincamper.md) - [Disaster-Prepared Electric Vans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hw-electro.md) - [Diminutive Electric Camper Vans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-camper-van.md) - [Aerodynamic Electric Camping Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-charging-camping-vehicle.md) - [Compact Electric Campers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/electric-camper.md) - [Emissions-Free Camper Vans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ford-transit-phev-eco-evolution.md) - [All-Electric Camper Vans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winnebago-erv2.md) - [Electric Mini Camper Vans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2cv.md) - [Cabin-Transformed Vintage Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1970-volkswagen-beetle.md)