Mercedes-Benz is actively developing a “solar paint” to provide energy to its electric vehicles (EVs). This technology involves applying a photovoltaic layer, approximately 5 micrometers thick to all of the vehicle’s exterior surface, which converts sunlight into electrical energy or charges the battery.
Mercedes says this solar paint has an efficiency rate of about 20% – almost the efficiency of a good solar panel. But it is non-toxic, made from readily available materials and free from rare earth metals and silicon. This makes it cost-effective to produce and easy to recycle.
So why is it not in production? We want to know.
Mercedes was not reached out to for comment, but they would certainly say:
“Patience, please. There’s a lot to consider in an exterior finish. Does it have the right look as befits our brand? How will it weather? What will it add to the price of the vehicle, and will consumers accept it?”
Well, Mercedes, in California, where it’s all about solar and paying the premium to save the world is not an issue, we got you. For the rest of America, who knows anymore?
Covering a mid-size SUV with this solar paint could generate sufficient energy to power the vehicle for up to 7,456 miles per year under optimal conditions, such as those found in sunny climates like Los Angeles, according to Mercedes math. In less sunny environments, such as Stuttgart, Mercedes HQ, not so much…. But still, every little bit helps.
The photovoltaic paint remains active even when the vehicle is turned off, charging the high-capacity battery.
The solar paint was floated during a car show. Mercedes-Benz has shown a commitment to electrification with its Ambition 2039
“A core element of our sustainable business strategy is Ambition 2039, with which we already set the course in 2019 for a holistic approach to climate protection and air pollution control,” Mercedes states on its site. “The ambition is to make our entire fleet of new vehicles net carbon-neutral along the entire value chain and over the vehicles’ entire life cycle by 2039.”
To have done it with solar paint could be somewhat of a breakthrough. Mercedes, with solar paint with an efficiency of “about 20%” is somehow able to almost match the state of the art in commercially produced solar panels with efficiencies of over 22% is all by itself somewhat of a tech miracle.
Mercedes offered something like this 10 years ago when in November of 2014, it showed the Mercedes Vision G-Code concept vehicle at the company’s then-new Product Engineering Centre in Beijing.
Just like the recent photo paint, the Vision G-Code featured a distinctive “multi-voltaic” paint that functioned as a continuous solar panel capable of generating electrical energy from sunlight. However, no specifics were given. We can only assume that this time around, the photopaint has better efficiency.
Mercedes is not to propose the use of solar energy in its vehicles. The Toyota Prius Prime had a Solar Roof option. It added a modicum of miles to the range. In my estimation, it has not been a runaway hit.
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid introduced an integrated solar roof capable of charging the car’s hybrid battery. Like the Toyota Solar Roof option, it does not seem to have set the world on fire.
There have been several startups that have tried to use solar power for vehicles (the Dutch Lightyear 0, Sono Motors Sion, and Aptera Solar EV. Bless their hearts. We do sincerely wish them the best of luck.
Source: Motor Trend
