The roof of a car spends hours in the sun. In a parking lot, in front of your house or outside a supermarket, that surface just gets hot. The European SolarMoves project starts from here: using that sun to produce energy. We are talking about photovoltaics integrated into vehicles (VIPV, Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics): solar cells inserted in the roof, in the bonnet and in some cases also on the sides. The car, van or truck thus becomes small mobile generators.
The results collected by the project show that a solar electric car can cover up to 55% of its annual needs in Central Europe and up to 80% in the sunniest areas of Southern Europe. They are theoretical values and depend on use, exposure to the sun and climatic conditions, but they indicate a concrete direction.
SolarMoves analyzed 23 vehicle categories using real driving, weather and irradiance data. The goal was not to imagine the future, but to understand how much sun can really be transformed into kilometers. For those who travel short distances and often leave the car outdoors, the advantage can be significant. In the most favorable months external top-ups can decrease significantly.
Freight and diesel transport
The most interesting part, however, concerns freight transport. Trucks, vans and trailers have much larger surfaces than cars and can accommodate more photovoltaic modules. According to the project, integrated photovoltaics on electric trucks can increase daily autonomy by up to 15%. A trailer can produce up to 55 kWh per day in summer from the roof alone, while with panels also on the side walls it can reach 90-110 kWh.
This energy can power refrigeration, hydraulic systems and other onboard services without taking a toll on the main battery. For fleets it means less consumption, less operating costs and less dependence on charging infrastructure.
Diesel vehicles could also reduce part of auxiliary consumption, but the greatest benefit emerges from electric vehicles. Photovoltaics on vehicles does not eliminate the need for charging stations. However, it can reduce some of the energy demand from the grid. According to SolarMoves, if all new vehicles placed on the European market between 2024 and 2030 adopted this technology, the demand for electricity from the grid could decrease by 15.6 TWh in 2030.
To get there, however, clear rules, dedicated approval procedures and modules resistant to vibrations, shocks and daily wear are needed. Integrating panels into a vehicle is much more complex than installing them on a house roof.
The solar electric car is therefore not a car that forgets its socket forever. It is a vehicle that makes better use of an existing surface, produces part of the energy it consumes and reduces the number of recharges needed. The roof remains there. Only, instead of just warming up, it starts to work.
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