It seems like a no-brainer: the warmth and light of the sun's reliable daily routine surrounds us, and solar panel technology has been converting light energy into electricity for decades, so why not outperform every electric car on the road in one way or another? to get free juice instead of forcing solar panel homeowners to plug into an increasingly strained electricity grid? The cost? Conspiracy? Both of? Maybe some of the above, but the real reason: science.
The main reason is for lack of a better term: space, or the lack of it. Without getting into technical detail, there simply isn't enough space on top of cars for a large enough solar collector system (often an "array") to contribute significantly to battery charging needs. If it did, every EV manufacturer in the world would include the matrix (or offer it as an option) in every vehicle sold.
However, that may be about to change, partly thanks to science and partly thanks to consumer demand and some automaker redesigns. I think we will see more cars with solar power systems in the future. Toyota has announced that the new generation Prius will have a sunroof option. Previous generations also had this option, but the solar power only ran the air conditioner or cooling fan when the car was parked in a warm location and not charging the battery. I'm going now. What has changed? Previously, the solar panel could generate enough power (voltage) to match the battery voltage; Toyota has clearly reconsidered this approach (the technology is readily available). Will your Prius be sitting in the sun all day when it's time to get home from work? It's not much, but it can add some mileage to the range, and if your ride is a small mileage (for many people) you can ride "for free" on that mileage increase. And if the car sits in the sun for a few days (most cars spend 95% of their life parked), it can add up. Simply put: it's free energy you have to pay for. This is persuasive for many consumers and therefore for car manufacturers.
Another method is to cover the entire car in solar-recovery technology, like Sono Moto's Scion (not to be confused with February's Scion), a four-seater (above) that recharges the small car's battery when sunlight hits it. from any angle. With 456 solar cells integrated into the body of the car, Sono claims a range of 305 km (190 miles) on a full charge, and under ideal conditions, a range of 245 km (145 miles) on a single charge. It will also charge the car up to 80% in less than an hour, and Sono says the Scion will also have V2H/V2G capabilities to power your home or HVAC components. The car is currently pre-production, but it could be a glimpse into the future of electric cars that don't necessarily need to be near a grid-connected charger to collect electricity.
What is more V2H than Forbes? V2G? V2V? Ford's lightning electric pickup cuts the power by Bill Roberson
Another interesting idea is Scout Solar and Mark I Solar from Wink Motors. These high-speed minicars are special city vehicles that reach speeds of up to 25 mph, and because they have a small battery (providing a range of 60 miles), a solar panel on top of the cars can charge the small battery while parked. . .
Give it enough time and you can fully charge the car battery. The Wink machines (above) are now in production and on their way to America, watch for their debut soon (and a longer story on Forbes.com).
At the other end of the spectrum we have electric trucks and trains. Tesla and other tractor trailers will have large batteries, but what if the roof of the trailer was a large solar panel? There is plenty of room on top of the 53-foot trailer, and even more than the electric trailer on the second tow. Trucks are always a delicate dance when it comes to fuel, and if solar-powered trailers can register even a relative single-digit increase in range or charging time, the energy and time savings will pay off in a big way. .
Also, the same idea can work with trains. Most people don't realize that the locomotives that transport freight around the world are actually electric cars; Diesel fuel powers a generator that powers huge electric motors. They are essentially the first gasoline/electric hybrid cars. What if every van had solar panels on top? Even for a single train connected in series, this can generate large amounts of energy that the engines can use in a hybrid storage system (batteries + diesel) or power the train on the ground with solar alone. The fuel savings will be huge over time.
Finally, all these solar collector systems can also be connected to the grid, changing our energy system from the current demand-type system to a storage-based system (with large batteries) capable of absorbing energy consumption peaks. V2G technology. big change. Solar critics wrongly claim that we'll have to cover Earth with solar panels like the planet in the sci-fi movie Coruscant to meet our energy needs with solar alone, but that's wildly inaccurate. A solar farm of this size might do the trick, but if you break down the idea of collecting solar energy into very, very small parts, cars, trucks, trains, etc. and perhaps airplanes are more than the world needs for energy. You just need the will to do it. The technology is available today.
One thing is certain: solar panels will continue to improve in efficiency and costs will continue to decrease. Battery technology will continue to improve and eventually achieve parity with liquid charging or faster charging times. It's true that we're in the early years of the electric vehicle revolution, and just like in the early years of internal combustion vehicles, technologies, infrastructure, and costs continue to improve through innovation, improvements, and new ideas for improvement. For the foreseeable future , most electric vehicles will still require a high-power charging system connected to the grid or a home power source, but the inclusion of solar panels in cars as a whole could have a major impact on the performance and autonomy of electric grids. . . capabilities of all types of electric vehicles, not just cars.
