Mercedes-Benz is evaluating a groundbreaking 'solar paint' technology that uses non-silicon photovoltaic coatings to generate energy for vehicles.
The innovative solar modules are just 5 micrometers thick and weigh 50 grams per square meter. They can be seamlessly applied to any vehicle surface, functioning like a thin paste.
This new coating allows for a protective layer made of a nanoparticle-based paint that transmits 94% of solar energy. The company aims for this solar paint to cover all external surfaces of vehicles, regardless of shape or angle, with an efficiency of 20%.
In Stuttgart, a mid-sized SUV with an 11 square meter solar coating could generate enough energy to travel up to 12,000 km annually under ideal solar conditions.
Notably, the solar paint does not contain rare earth elements or silicon. It is made from non-toxic, readily available materials that are recyclable and significantly cheaper to produce than traditional solar modules.
Additionally, GoSun has introduced the EV Solar Charger, a foldable solar panel kit that covers much of a vehicle's surface, enhancing electric vehicle charging options.
Researchers at the National Center for Thin-Film Clusters in Oxford are also developing ultra-thin perovskite solar panels to charge devices on the go.