China's FAW Hongqi tests perovskite solar sunroof on EHS7 electric SUV
The panoramic roof can generate up to 300W in sunlight, about 400 kWh a year, and may help run the AC and other features without drawing on the main battery.
Battery range and charging time remain the two big questions in the world of electric vehicles. To address them, FAW Hongqi, a well-known Chinese automobile company, is working on new technology. The company has developed a solar panoramic sunroof based on perovskite technology and tested it in the Hongqi EHS7 electric SUV. The solar system fitted on the roof is meant to generate electricity from sunlight.
The sunroof's main feature is that it can generate up to 300W of real-time power in sunlight. According to the company, the system can produce about 400 kWh of electricity a year.
This power can be used directly to run some of the car's electrical features. For example, the need to draw energy from the main battery to run the AC, a mini fridge and a security system such as Sentry Mode could be reduced. More of the car's battery could then be left for other important uses.
Solar panels in cars have so far mainly used silicon technology. The solar roof developed by Hongqi uses perovskite material instead. Because this material is relatively thin, light and flexible, it is easier to fit on the car's curved roof. Compared with conventional solar panels, the technology makes it possible to install solar cells without making major changes to the car's design.
Hongqi's research team has worked on the challenge of protecting the solar panel from outside elements such as ultraviolet rays, water and wind. A prototype of the technology has been fitted in the Hongqi EHS7 electric SUV, which is also known in China as the Tiangong 08.
The company's plan is not limited to solar panels on the roof. Hongqi intends to fit the technology later on the bonnet and other parts of the car. The report says the target, once the solar system covers the whole car, is to generate about 10 units of electricity a day. It is claimed that this energy could give the car up to 80 km of additional driving range a day. However, this figure could depend on real-world weather, sunlight and other conditions.
Hongqi is also working on charging technology for electric cars. The company is developing Flash Charging Technology, which aims to charge the battery from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes. The company is also testing next-generation solid state battery technology. The solar roof, ultra-fast charging and solid state batteries could together change the range and charging experience of future electric cars.
The company has not yet clearly said when the solar technology and the flash charging system will be available to ordinary customers as a finished product.
