Toyota to test solar panels for electric cars

Tech.Xplore.com ^ | July 6, 2019 | Nancy Cohen

[ETL]

What's not to like about this concept: high-efficiency solar cells gifting electric cars with mileage.

Bertel Schmitt, The Drive, said, "The solar roof could morph from mostly a marketing-device to a helpful feature."

He noted that, referring to plug-ins, "On a fair-weather day, the juice would be provided by the sun, a big improvement especially for people who don't have their own garage."

Toyota has ambitions over the concept and is to start testing an onboard solar recharging system where the hood, the roof, and back are covered with cells.

The solar roof can charge while the car is on the move.

It did not escape Interesting Engineering's notice that the new solar battery cell can fit a larger surface.

"The solar battery cell is a thin film about 0.03 mm thick.

Because it is so thin, it can fit the curves of the vehicle including the roof, hood, and rear hatch door," said the report.

Darrell Etherington, TechCrunch, said at center stage was the new and improved version of the solar power cells previously launched on the Japan-exclusive Prius PHV.

The Toyota news release said "the demo car employs a system that charges the driving battery while the vehicle is parked and also while it's being driven."

This was seen as an interesting development expected to lead to improvements in the electric car's cruising range and fuel efficiency.

"Previously, the Prius PHV charged the driving battery only while the vehicle was parked.

However, with improvements in power generation output, the demo car employs a system that charges while the vehicle is being driven.

This is expected to boost the BEV-mode cruising range and fuel efficiency significantly," said Toyota.

[norwaypinesavage]

This article was clearly written by someone who just doesn't have a clue. The available area for placement of solar cells is trivial in comparison for the amount needed to be significant. For starters, note that solar panels that actually produce significant power, all are pointed toward the sun, the ones placed on cars are not. On cars, the solar cells don't even produce enough energy to air condition the car to make up for the 80% of the solar energy that turns to heat, not electricity. (Solar cells can only capture around 20% of the radiating solar energy. This is limited by physics, not ingenuity.)

If you really wanted to capture solar energy to power your car, you would put them on the roof of your garage, not your car. There is far more area of capture there, but you can also make it point the right direction. It also doesn't have the susceptibility to rocks, birds, and the dirt often found covering cars.

[moovova]

"You don't understand! I coulda had class! I coulda been a contender! I coulda been somebody.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Why not wind-up cars ,LOL"

PLEASE...don't give'em ideas.

[lowbridge]

You’re supposed to be the expert on those things. Why do you think we keep you around? ;-)

[central_va]

Cars are getting ridiculously complex.