Mercedes-Benz says it is developing a solar paint as a new kind of solar module with 20% efficiency
At 5 micrometers thin, it can be directly applied on the vehicle’s exterior to generate electricity
It is non-toxic and made using readily available raw materials instead of silicon
German luxury and commercial vehicles manufacturer Mercedes-Benz Group has announced research into the development of a solar paint with a high efficiency of 20%. These ‘new type of solar modules’ will power the company’s electric vehicles (EVs).
Similar to a wafer-thin layer of paste, the German group said, its solar paint is 5 micrometers thin. An area of 11 m2, equivalent to the surface of a mid-size SUV, can produce energy for up to 12,000 km/year. It aims to use the same on all exterior vehicle surfaces, irrespective of their shape and angle.
Energy generated can be fed directly into the high-voltage battery to power the vehicle.
“The photovoltaic system is permanently active and also generates energy when the vehicle is switched off. In future, this could be a highly effective solution for increased electric range and fewer charging stops,” it explained while listing a number of innovations it is working on for the ‘car of the future.’
Moreover, this solar paint does not contain any rare earths or silicon. The company claims it is non-toxic, and uses only readily available raw materials. The paint is also easy to recycle and cheaper to produce than conventional solar modules.
The German group had earlier joined hands with Fraunhofer ISE as part of its VISION EQXX program to develop an electric system with 117 solar cells for the car roof.
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