ATLAS TECHNOLOGIES BV

Their core work

Atlas Technologies BV, operating as Lightyear, is a Dutch electric vehicle developer based in Helmond that designed solar-integrated electric cars intended to charge themselves via roof-mounted photovoltaic cells. Their core engineering competence sits at the intersection of automotive powertrain design, energy efficiency, and integration of solar PV into vehicle bodies — aiming to extend range and reduce grid-charging dependence. Their most visible work was the Lightyear One prototype and a follow-on technology track on efficient, reliable electric drivetrains. In practice they are an automotive technology SME combining vehicle engineering with power electronics and energy systems thinking.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2019-2021 their work centred on building a market-ready solar electric passenger car as coordinator of the LIGHTYEAR project — a vertically integrated vehicle development effort. From 2021 onwards they shifted to a contributing partner role in HiEFFICIENT, focusing on component-level topics: wide band-gap semiconductors, drivetrain efficiency, and reliability. The trajectory moves from a consumer-facing whole-vehicle ambition toward deeper engagement with the underlying power electronics stack.

They are moving from a flagship vehicle-OEM ambition toward specialised contributions on efficient, reliable electric powertrain components — useful for consortia needing automotive-grade integration know-how.

How they like to work

They have led once and joined once, suggesting a company confident enough to coordinate large SME-2 projects but also comfortable contributing specialist vehicle-integration knowledge inside broader research consortia. Their LIGHTYEAR SME grant was essentially a solo commercial push, while HiEFFICIENT places them inside a 30-partner European RIA network. Partners should expect a commercially driven counterpart rather than a pure research lab.

Connected to 32 unique partners across 9 countries, almost entirely through the HiEFFICIENT consortium, giving them a pan-European automotive and power electronics network rather than a narrow national footprint.

What sets them apart

Unlike most Dutch automotive SMEs, Lightyear attempted the full leap from R&D to a series-production solar electric vehicle, making them one of the few European SMEs with hands-on experience integrating photovoltaics into road-legal cars. They combine whole-vehicle engineering with power electronics expertise, which most component specialists lack. For partners, this means access to system-level automotive integration thinking — though their commercial trajectory after 2023 should be verified before new engagements.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LIGHTYEAR
  Their flagship SME-2 grant (EUR 2.5M) to commercialise a self-charging solar electric car — one of the most ambitious SME Instrument automotive projects of its cohort.
• HiEFFICIENT
  Places them inside a 30-partner European RIA on wide band-gap drivetrains, showing their shift from vehicle OEM to power electronics contributor.