THE vehicles equipped with photovoltaic panels They are electric cars (or hybrid electrified) that use solar energy to recharge the electric traction battery. Let’s find out about this type of solar charging, how efficient it is on cars and all the benefits.
Self-charging cars: types, benefits and disadvantages
The cars that recharge themselvesas mentioned above, are those that use the sun’s energy to self-recharging. These fall into two main categories:
- Integrated Solar Powered Car: powered exclusively by solar energy. The solar panels are integrated directly above the bodywork (roof and hood). The sun’s energy is converted into electricity through the photovoltaic panels, thus powering the electric motor.
- Hybrid cars with auxiliary solar panels: that is, electric cars, or vehicles with internal combustion engines. Basically, solar panels on the roof support the battery, increasing electric autonomy and reducing gasoline consumption.
![Car roof with built-in photovoltaic panel](https://foto2.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Toyota-Prius-PHV-10.jpg)
THE benefits that could derive from a solar car are really numerous:
- Reduction or total elimination of CO2 emissions.
- Much lower costs.
- Quiet and stable driving.
But at the same time there are also some disadvantages:
- It is expensive as this technology is still developing.
- Solar energy is limited, especially when the climate emits low light.
- Solar panels are bulky, which can negatively affect the design and aerodynamics of the car.
Furthermore, the efficiency of a solar car depends on many factors:
- Solar radiation in the area of use.
- Solar panel power.
- Battery size and weight.
- Driving mode.
In any case, solar cars could positively revolutionize mobility as they are promising, but their development will take time. Furthermore, with solar cars the problem of recharging vehicles also ceases to exist, and all this translates into a great economic savings.
The first solar car model
In 1955the General Motors built The first solar car model which he baptized with the name of “Sunmobile“. The latter, a small prototype (about 40 cm long) presented at the Chicago Motor Show, was assembled in balsa wood and featured 12 small solar panels on the upper part of the body, capable of transforming sunlight – as well as artificial light, such as from a light bulb – into power.
![The GM SUNMOBILE prototype year 1955](https://foto2.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gm-sunmobile-auto-solare-1995-1024x576.jpg)
Since then, technological advances in solar panels and batteries have made it possible to build solar cars that can travel much further.
Cars that recharge themselves with photovoltaic panels
There are currently several prototypes of vehicles equipped with solar panels, and more will be released in the near future. Here are all the models of solar cars that exist, are in the planning stage, or have never been completed:
- Lightyear 0: a sedan, designed by the Dutch startup Lightyear, went into production in December 2022 at the Valmet Automotive plant in Finland. It featured 782 IBC monocrystalline silicon solar cells, with a range of 625 km, to which 70 km were added thanks to the panels (5 square meters) located on the front roof and hood. The Light Year 0 was built with a 50 kWh battery and an average energy consumption of 10.5 kWh / 100 km, with lightweight and recyclable materials. The intention was to produce and sell 946 units at a price of 250,000 euros. However, the production of this vehicle ended abruptly at the end of January 2023, and the startup declared bankruptcy shortly thereafter, later reborn with a new company and other investors. The goal this time is to design and produce the Lightyear 2.
![Lightyear One Solar Electric Car](https://foto.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Lightyear-One-auto-elettrica-solare-1024x512.jpg)
- Aptera: a three-wheeled vehicle (two in front and one in the back) produced by the American start-up Aptera Motors. This solar vehicle, characterized by 80 photovoltaic cells covering a surface of 3 square meters, is able to travel 60 kilometers – emitting only clean energy – in good weather conditions. In addition, Aptera will be equipped with an internal battery, which will be offered in four different sizes.
![Rear view Aptera solar electric car on road](https://foto2.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Auto-elettrica-solare-Aptera-1.jpg)
- Hyundai Sonata: Released in 2019, this is the first car from Korean automaker Hyundai to feature two photovoltaic panels on the roof, and was launched only in America and Asia. Exposed to the sun for about 6 hours a day, this vehicle will then be able to travel 1,300 km a year using only solar energy.
![Hyundai Sonata, solar car](https://foto1.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Hyundai-Sonata-auto-solare-1024x627.jpg)
- Zion: Designed by German startup Sono Motors, this vehicle has 248 solar cells inside its body and a 54 kWh battery – which usually has a range of 305 km -. But Sono Motors failed to reach the goal that would have allowed it to start manufacturing (even though it had raised 47 million), and has therefore released everything to third parties who want to start the process.
![Sion, solar car](https://foto1.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sion-auto-solare-1024x576.jpg)
- Squad Solar City Car: was unveiled in May 2022 by Squad Mobility BV, a Dutch startup created by two former Lightyear employees. This solar vehicle is a two-seater BEV with removable doors that is powered by solar panels installed on the roof. In fact, it is precisely thanks to these panels that it is possible to remove the two batteries, because it also has two batteries, in addition to the panels. This small car can travel 20 kilometers a day both with and without light. The Squad Solar City Car is 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide (in short, it was designed for practical use in the city), and is also powered by two motors with a total power of 4 kW, reaching a speed of 45 km/h. Its starting price is $6,250 (including VAT, for the cheapest model).
![Squad Solar City Car](https://foto2.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Squad-Solar-City-Car-1024x576.jpg)
- Hyundai Ioniq 5: is a crossover characterized by an avant-garde design, launched in 2021. This model can also be equipped with solar panels on the roof. The autonomy of the BEV varies from 460 to 430 km (WLTP) depending on the 19 or 20-inch wheels. An additional 2,000 km per year are guaranteed by the photovoltaic system if exposed to the sun for at least six hours a day.
![Hyundai Ioniq 5 with solar panels](https://foto2.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Hyundai-Ioniq-5-con-pannelli-solari-1024x576.jpg)
Car with solar panels (+ LPG) exploded in Naples
An experimental vehicle (VW Polo TDI diesel) equipped with photovoltaic panels on the roof exploded on the Naples ring road at the end of June 2023. The vehicle was an experimental prototype of the University of Salerno in which the CNR also participated, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from internal combustion engines. The goal of the project was to make petrol and diesel cars become hybrids.
![Car with solar panels a VW Polo TDI exploded on the Naples ring road.](https://foto2.newsauto.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/auto-esplosa-napoli-gpl-solare-1024x647.jpg)
To do this, a solar panel was applied to the roof of the vehicle in question, which powered a small lithium battery, which in turn powered two electric motors inside the rear wheels. However, there were gas cylinders in the passenger compartment, and it is therefore possible that the explosion was caused by these. The following people lost their lives in the explosion: Mary Victoria Meadowsa 65 year old Neapolitan researcher from the CNR, and Fulvio Filacethe 25-year-old graduate from San Giorgio a Cremano.
Conclusions
Cars equipped with solar panels could improve mobility by making it even greener, but the timescales may be long enough for them to travel on the roads with a greater autonomy provided by solar energy.
The article Cars that recharge themselves with photovoltaic panels comes from newsauto.it.
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