Hyundai and Kia
plan to introduce solar charging technologies on a handful of their vehicles
after 2019. The two South Korean car manufacturers have developed
electricity-generating solar panels which can be incorporated into the roof or
the hood of vehicles and be used to provide additional electrical power for
internal combustion, hybrid, and battery-electric vehicles. The three solar
charging systems in development are the first-generation silicon solar roof
system, the second-generation semi-transparent solar roof system, and the
third-generation lightweight solar-lid.
The first of these
will be used by hybrid models and consists of mass-produced silicon solar
panels that are mounted on a normal vehicle roof. Depending on the weather
conditions, this system can charge a vehicle’s battery between 30 and 60 per
cent capacity in a day.
As for the
second-generation semi-transparent solar roof system, it will be used
exclusively for vehicles with internal combustion engines. These panels used
for this system are applied to a panoramic sunroof and as the name implies, are
semi-transparent. Hyundai and Kia say their ICE-powered vehicles with solar
roofs will help to boost sales as they will adhere to strict CO2 regulations.
Last, is the third-generation lightweight solar-lid system. This setup
involves a structure that mounts solar panels on a bonnet and roof. The
automakers did not specify which pf their vehicles will be the first to receive
its solar technologies.
