Ever since Elon Musk unveiled the Tesla Cybertruck, the prospects for electrically-powered pick-up trucks have been increasing as other manufacturers (not the mainstream carmakers though) have announced plans for their own models.
The latest is Nikola Corporation which will show the first prototype later this year in Nevada. Design-wise, the Badger, as it is to be called, looks like the typical truck of today with a 5-seat cab and an overall length of 5900 mm. What is going to be game-changing is the performance which the company says will ‘target and exceed every electric or petrol pickup in its class’. To reduce development and production cost, the Badger will be built in conjunction with another manufacturer utilizing their certified parts and manufacturing facilities.
With a 150 kWh lithium-ion battery pack ‘refilled’ by a 120 kW hydrogen fuel cell that generates the electricity, the Badger is expected to have an output of up to 900 bhp with at least 50% available continuously, and almost 1,330 Nm of torque. Very impressive is the claim of an estimated 965 kms of range on a full battery pack and using the fuel cell but without the fuel cell support, the range will be about 480 kms.
The Badger is being designed to handle take-offs with minimal loss of performance and to operate on grades up to 40% through advanced software blending of batteries and fuel-cell. With a fully loaded trailer and combined vehicle weight of 8,180 kgs, the Badger will be able to launch from a standstill on a 30% grade without motor stall.
The electric pick-up will also be engineered to outperform all electric pick-up trucks on the market in continuous towing. It will have a 15-kW power outlet for tools, lights and compressors, which is enough power to assist a construction site for approximately 12 hours without a generator.
“Nikola has billions worth of technology in our semi-truck program, so why not build it into a pick-up truck?” said Trevor Milton, CEO, Nikola Corporation. “I have been working on this pick-up program for years and believe the market is now ready for something that can handle a full day’s worth of work without running out of energy. This electric truck can be used for work, weekend getaways, towing, off-roading or to hit the ski slopes without performance loss. No other electric pick-up can operate in these temperatures and conditions.”
“The Nikola Badger is a game-changer. The program will help drive down the cost of the fuel-cell components on our semi-truck while accelerating the hydrogen station roll-out. Giving customers the option to order a fuel-cell or battery electric version will ensure we drive the cost down for everyone across our line-up,” added Mark Russell, President of Nikola Corporation.
Ford Motor Company has revealed the new Transit Smart Energy Concept – a one-of-a-kind 10-seater minibus which is helping the automaker explore solutions for maximising the energy efficiency and driving range of electrified vehicles. However, the distance that drivers can travel on a single charge of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) continues to be greatly impacted by the use of cabin heating features.
Research has showed that using the climate control system in a BEV can reduce the driving range by up to 50% in cold weather. Perhaps the same also applies in hot weather though there would be different issues creating the same drawback.
Challenges to energy usage
Compared to goods transport vehicles, multi-occupant vehicles such as minibuses require significantly more energy to create a comfortable temperature for occupants. The energy is provided by the high-voltage battery, presenting a significant challenge to the vehicle’s driving range. In vehicles with combustion engines, an engine-drive compressor is used as a separate pump for coolant.
Demonstrated recently, the fully-functioning, all-electric Transit Smart Energy Concept delivers 150 kms driving range from a 4-hour charge, supported by energy-saving and energy-generating innovations from solar panels to powertrain heat recovery systems.
“With frequent door openings, a large space to keep at comfortable temperatures, and a big payload to carry, a minibus presents the toughest challenge for maximising battery-electric vehicle range, and that’s exactly why we chose it for our new Transit Smart Energy Concept,” said Kilian Vas, Project Leader, Vehicle Architecture, Ford of Europe. “By developing this concept we’ve found a number of clever ways to save energy which could help further improve the electrified vehicle experience for customers in the future.”
Innovations that enhance energy efficiency
The Transit Smart Energy Concept uses the same drivetrain technology as the StreetScooter WORK XL commercial vehicle, and a Transit chassis fitted with a battery-electric drivetrain for zero-emissions driving. Innovations which enhance energy efficiency and driving range being tested for the first time include:
♦ An innovative heat pump system which utilises waste heat from the drivetrain components, the outside air, and the air within the cabin to reduce heating system energy usage by up to 65%, resulting in a range extension of 20%.;
♦ A power sliding door which opens halfway to reduce heat loss and can be activated by the passenger using a smart device. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning blower is automatically deactivated when the door is open;
♦ Heated business-class passenger seats and surfaces which enable passengers to control their local temperature, reducing the energy required for the large cabin;
♦ 6 roof-mounted solar panels which charge a 12V battery for powering seat heating, cabin lighting, and on-board electrical systems, including wireless charging for passenger mobile devices;
♦ A polycarbonate divider between the passenger door and seating area, which further reduces heat loss as passengers enter and exit, and protects passengers from external elements;
♦ Ventilated double-glazed windows which reduce cold contact surfaces, and insulate against heat loss; and
♦ An insulated rear floor and roof which further reduce cabin heat loss.
Colours can also help to go further!
Mood lighting which adjusts according to cabin temperature – red for warmth and blue for cooling – subliminally influencing passengers’ perception of cabin temperature. Experts claim colour choices can influence our mood, our responses… even how many likes we get on social media! Now Ford is exploring how matching the right colour to different driving situations could extend electric vehicle range.
The ambient lighting makes passengers feel warmer (with red lights) or cooler (with blue lights). This helps take the strain from the climate control system so that energy saved can instead be used to cover more kilometres.
In a trial simulating a winter’s day of 0° C and a summer’s day of 30° C, passengers were subjected to rate their level of comfort based on feeling too hot or too cold. In both cases, the ambient lighting resulted in reducing the power usage of the climate system: by 3.3% for cooling and 2.5% for heating.
“Our exposure to colour can change our mood in all sorts of ways. Here it is simply a case of using red ambient lighting inside the car to make people feel warmer and blue ambient lighting to make people feel cooler. Reducing the burden on the aircon could make a significant difference to extending vehicle range,” explained Lioba Muller, Lighting Team Engineer, Vehicle Architecture at Ford of Europe.
Visit www.sdacford.com.my to know more about Ford models available in Malaysia.
Although the model will only appear in showrooms in 2 years’ time, BMW is telling the world about the fourth model in its I sub-brand range – the i4. This will be the first purely electrically-powered model for the premium mid-range with the functionality of a 4-door Gran Coupe and emissions-free mobility.
More importantly, BMW promises to transfer the brand’s characteristic core features to the age of electric mobility, particularly the qualities of the 3-Series. Design-wise, it will be based on the i Vision Dynamics concept car (pictured below) shown in 2017 and sit on the CLAR platform.
The i Vision Dynamics concept
The development of the i4 is part of a comprehensive product offensive by the BMW Group in the field of models with electrified drive. The company currently has the biggest range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid models within the competitive field. By 2023, the BMW Group will have 25 models with electrified drive in its program.
Fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology
The drive technology of the i4 will set new standards in terms of power density, efficiency and range in locally emissions-free driving. The electric motor, power electronics, charging unit and high-voltage battery are entirely new. Together, they form the BMW eDrive technology of the fifth generation, with which the BMW Group has made further significant advancements in the field of electrified drive.
From 2020 onwards, the fifth- generation BMW eDrive technology will be introduced first in the iX3 and then in the iNEXT and i4. The electric motor developed for the i4 delivers a maximum output of around 390 kW/530 bhp, reaching the level of a V8 engine in current BMW models fitted with a combustion engine. 0 to 100 km/h acceleration is expected to be around 4 seconds, with a top speed of more than 200 km/h.
The fifth generation of BMW eDrive also includes a newly designed high-voltage battery featuring the latest battery cell technology. The design of the high-voltage battery developed for the i4 is characterised by its extremely flat design and optimised energy density. With a weight of some 550 kgs, it has an energy content of around 80 kWh. This gives a claimed range of approximately 600 kms.
Prototype of the i4 undergoing cold-weather testing.
Modular, flexible drive and battery storage technology
A flexible vehicle architecture, the flat, low-positioned high-voltage battery and the compact drive technology create a high degree of freedom in realising a model- specific design. The electric drive component, its charging unit and high-voltage battery are all developed and produced in-house by the BMW Group.
This drive system is compatible with all vehicle concepts and will be available for different models in a range of output levels. The highly integrated design of the system allows a significant increase in power density as well as a reduction in weight and manufacturing effort. Production of future-generation electric motors will no longer require materials categorised as rare earths.
The next generation charging unit is characterised by a uniform package suitable for all future vehicle architectures. It can be used in plug-in hybrid models as well as in purely electrically powered vehicles and is designed for a charging capacity of up to 150 kW. This allows the high-voltage battery pack to be charged to around 80% of its full energy content in around 35 minutes. This results in a charging time of around 6 minutes for a range of 100 kms.
Since Lexus was created in 1989 as Toyota’s luxury brand, it has usually been used as a technological showcase, introducing new technologies that in later years trickle down to Toyota models (Optitron meters are on example). It has enjoyed autonomy to choose its direction and product portfolio, coming out with successes like the RX which was a game-changer when it appeared in 1997. And while the Toyota brand steadily gravitated towards electrification, Lexus stuck with big internal combustion engines that still had demand from its upper strata customers.
This is not to say Lexus has not been supporting hybrids; since the launch of the RX 400h in 2005, the brand has been among the pioneers in electrification technologies, examples being the two-stage reduction gear and the multi-stage hybrid system.
Like most global brands that want to continue their business into the next decade, Lexus now has to prepare for electrification on a bigger scale, as the ‘big picture’ for the Toyota Group dictates. At the same time, its upcoming generation of electrified vehicles must offer the brand experiences that have been part of the reason for its continuing success.
LF-30 – Lexus Electrified Vision in 3-dimensional form
The Lexus LF-30 Electrified concept unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show targets a fundamental leap in vehicle performance, handling, control and driver enjoyment – even as mobility within our society continues to change with autonomous driving and vehicle electrification.
Presenting the vision in 3-dimensional form as the LF-30 concept, the technology of Lexus Electrified enables integrated control of powertrain, steering, suspension, and brakes, realizing the ultimate potential of the motor control technology cultivated in hybrid vehicles. With this technology, it is claimed that it will be possible to control the driving force to provide ideal vehicle posture according to each driving situation, enhancing safety and driving pleasure.
Lexus Advanced Posture Control technology regulates the drive-power output from high-torque electric motors to adjust vehicle posture in tune with human sensibilities. Completely independent control of front and rear drive wheels allows appropriate provision of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive, depending on the driving situation.
Compact and lightweight drive-power units expand freedom in vehicle packaging and are used to enable the driver to enjoy ideal driving, regardless of the road surface or driving conditions. As a core element of Lexus Electrified, Lexus intends to widely apply this technology throughout its line-up of electrified vehicles.
New design freedom with a BEV
In taking up the challenge of expressing a new design that could only be achieved with a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) powered by in-wheel electric motors, Lexus visually articulated the LF-30’s unique energy flow. The car’s form is meant to visually express the energy created by the wheels set at the corners of the bodywork streaming toward the vehicle cabin and past the driver to directly flow onto the road surface. ‘Voltaic Sky’, the colour of the exterior, employs a leading-edge metal-infused coating to achieve a unique quality tinted by a touch of blue-green.
Taking advantage of a shape that has no defined bonnet – made possible by being a BEV – Lexus’ designers further evolved the signature spindle form to span the entire vehicle architecture. The window glass, which continually stretches from the front to rear, the muscular fenders, and the wing-shaped headlights now form the contours of the Lexus iconic spindle.
The shape of the body is fashioned with an elegantly flowing front which transitions into a linear and sharp rear. In addition to the wing-shaped headlights, the sharpness of the rear lights and side air intakes combine to achieve both excellent aerodynamics and cooling performance, resulting in styling fused with function.
The opacity of the side windows can be freely adjusted, providing occupants with expansive views of the surrounding scenery and a high level of privacy at night and in other situations. The colour of the front face of the car and luminescence patterns help identify from the outside whether it is being operated in its normal mode or in its autonomous driving mode, reflecting the brand’s pursuit of both a high level of styling and functionality.
Tazuna – new Lexus concept
Adhering to Lexus’ fundamental human-centered philosophy, the cockpit was designed based on the new Lexus concept of ‘Tazuna’. Inspired by how a single rein can be used to achieve mutual understanding between horse and rider, the steering controller-mounted switches and head-up display have been coordinated to a high degree, creating a space that enables the driver to focus on driving while controlling various functions, such as the navigation and audio system and driving-mode selection, without having to shift one’s vision or operate manual switches.
As an indication of the future image of a Tazuna cockpit, the LF-30 employs next-generation interfaces, such as gesture control and enhanced presentation of vehicle information through AR (augmented reality). With the layout of the front passenger seat echoing that of a first-class seat on an airliner, the interior is one in which a sense of openness and a sense of envelopment coexist.
The rear seats use artificial muscle technology to mold to their occupant, and can support various modes such as reclining, relaxation, and alert functions. A Mark Levinson audio system creates a next-generation listening environment, in which minute speaker control establishes ideal acoustic spaces for music listening pleasure for the driver and each passenger, and speakers built into the headrests not only provide an optimal audio environment but also have a noise-cancelling feature that contributes to enhanced quietness.
A glass roof above the rear seats features voice control and a gesture-controlled ‘SkyGate’ display window that uses AR to display various types of information, such as a realistic star-filled sky, user-favourite videos, and even navigation.
Sustainable materials
In addition to its unique design, the interior also indicates the direction of next-generation luxury by using sustainable materials to reduce environmental burden. Yakisugi (charred cedar), a traditional Japanese material, is used in the floor and steering controller while recycled metal was processed into fibres for use in creating the pleated door trim. This approach expresses Lexus’ distinctiveness and innovative spirit.
Based on the latest autonomous driving technology concept of ‘Lexus Teammate’, the LF-30 features advanced driving support functions in the form of a Chauffeur mode and a Guardian mode. Occupants can enjoy both comfort and peace of mind during autonomous driving with advanced posture control technology being employed. Furthermore, a self-parking function and a front-door pick-up function in which the LF-30 autonomously moves from driveway to doorstep will provide an especially high level of convenience.
The LF-30 also carries the ‘Lexus Airporter’ drone-technology support vehicle. Using autonomous control, the Lexus Airporter is capable of such tasks as independently transporting baggage from a household doorstep to the vehicle’s luggage area.
Specifications of the LF-30 concept
First production Lexus BEV next month
While we won’t see a model looking like the LF-30 in Lexus showrooms anytime soon, we will see the first BEV with a Lexus badge having its global debut next month. It’s not known if this will be adapted from a current model (like how Volvo has done with its XC-40 Recharge) or something entirely new. But it is confirmed that the first Lexus PHEV with a new dedicated BEV platform will be launched in the early part of the next decade.
By 2025, Lexus will have electrified versions of all its models, with the aim for sales of electrified models being higher than those of conventional internal combustion engine models.
Visit www.lexus.com.my to know more about Lexus models you can buy in Malaysia today.
After its pioneering role in mass producing hybrid vehicles in the late 1990s and then taking on a leadership position in the segment, it looks like Toyota plans to do the same for battery electric vehicles or BEVs. With hybrids, Toyota successfully brought the more environment-friendly powertrain into the mainstream, enabling volumes to become larger. This, in turn, allowed economies of scale to kick in and lower production and technology costs, making hybrids more affordable.
At the Tokyo Motor Show this month, the carmaker will display a new, production-ready ultra-compact BEV which it plans to start selling in Japan late next year. The ultra-compact 2-seater is specifically designed to meet the daily mobility needs of customers who make regular short-distance trips, such as the elderly, newly licenced drivers or businesspeople visiting local customers.
The next-generation mobility solution is designed to provide short-distance mobility while limiting impact on the environment. It has a range of approximately 100 kms on a single charge, can reache a maximum speed of 60 km/h and features an extremely tight turning radius.
Development chief Akihiro Yanaka said the BEV, which is less than 2.5 metres long and 1.3 metres wide, can be considered a mobility solution that can support Japan’s ageing society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life.
There will also be a variant for business although it is currently in concept stage and plans for sale have not been announced.
New business model to popularise BEVs
Toyota is also pairing its planned launch next year with a new business model that aims to promote the wider adoption of BEVS in general. This includes examining every step of the battery pack’s life, from manufacture through sale, resale or re-use, and recycling to maximise its value.
In the near term, Toyota will focus on expanded leasing initiatives designed to recapture used batteries for evaluation and re-use as appropriate in pre-owned vehicles, as service parts, or even in non-automobile applications. Toyota is also developing peripheral services for BEVs such as recharging stations and insurance.
The first of BEV models from Toyota which will appear in Japanese cities from next year,
Throughout its 67-year life, the original Land Rover Defender was offered only with petrol or diesel engines. That’s not unusual since it was developed from a product of the late 1940s, long before the era of zero emissions and greater consciousness to preserve the environment. Its powertrains were robust, as required by customers, and had been improved to deliver better performance and meet progressively stricter emission control regulations.
However, when it came to developing the successor, the world had become a very different place. From the 1970s onwards, air pollution – blamed largely on exhaust emissions from motor vehicles – persuaded governments to introduce regulations forcing carmakers to reduce emissions. These regulations, especially in the more developed countries, kept getting tougher and tougher. And with rising fuel prices, there was also a need to reduce fuel consumption even if there was indifference to concerns about fossil fuel supplies diminishing and running out at some point in the future.
Electrification the way to go
For Land Rover, as for other carmakers, it was clear that there were limitations to engineering the internal combustion engine to meet toughest regulations. The better solution was to use electrification, an approach that had become increasingly viable since Toyota and Honda introduced hybrid powertrains in the late 1990s. Pure electric powertrains remain expensive due to the high technology costs but hybrids are now into the mainstream and almost every carmaker has adopted the technology.
So for the new Defender, it was clear that while less developed markets would still require conventional engines, the future dictated that there must be a hybrid powertrain under the bonnet. This led to the development of Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology that is available from launch while a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrain will join the range next year. This will offer silent zero-emissions driving in EV-mode, giving Land Rover owners an entirely new experience off-road.
MHEV with 48V system
A key feature of the Defender’s MHEV is its 48-volt battery pack consisting of 14 x 8Ah lithium-ion pouch cells that can store up to 200Wh of electricity. The MHEV system is not new to Land Rover, having first been used in the Evoque and has been further refined. Separate from the normal vehicle battery, it generates up to 142.5 Nm of torque which enhances acceleration.
A DC/DC converter installed at the back provides energy to the battery pack as well as the vehicle’s conventional battery. There’s also a Belt-Integrated Starter Generator which ‘harvests’ electrical energy while driving. Whenever the driver lifts off on the throttle pedal, electricity is regenerated to the battery pack where it can be utilized.
The new Defender’s platform has been engineered for conventional petrol and diesel powertrains as well as hybrid powertrains.
The in-line 6-cylinder 3-litre Ingenium petrol engine features both a conventional twin-scroll turbocharger and an advanced 7 kW electric supercharger. In combination with the other advanced technologies, total output is 400 ps/550 Nm with a claimed 0 – 100 km/h time of 6.1 seconds. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 10.4 kms/litre.
Software updating – without going to the service centre
The extensive array of electronic systems in the new Defender mean that ‘future-proofing’ is necessary and software updates can be sent over the air periodically. Up to 14 onboard electronic control modules, more than any previous Jaguar Land Rover vehicle, can receive updates, without the need to visit a Land Rover service centre. In this way, the Defender will get better with age. Customers in remote locations can still get the updates – all that’s required is a data connection via a satellite-phone.
Although electronic systems installed in motor vehicles these days are ‘hardened’ and able to withstand the harsh conditions during daily use, they have to endure even more severe and extreme conditions in a vehicle like the Defender. Given that many owners will go off-road and over the roughest terrain on the planet, Land Rover engineers had to conduct rigorous testing all over the world and in the most extreme conditions. Serious attention was given to electrical connections and the effects of impacts on components like the battery pack. Even in the 21st century, the original 4×4 reborn has to maintain as well set new standards for toughness and capability.
The 2019 Tokyo Motor Show is just around the corner and already motoring journalists around the world are feeling the heat of what’s to come. The folks from Mazda also has something up their sleeves as they will be revealing their very first mass-production battery electric vehicle (EV). (more…)
Karma Automotive, the company created from the previous Fisker Automotive purchased by a Chinese autoparts supplier Wanxiang Group, will reveal its design and technological direction with the North American debut of its SC1 Vision Concept car.
“The SC1 is a signpost to Karma’s future,” said Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou. “Designed and engineered in less than 12 months, SC1 is a full battery electric vehicle (BEV) that explores the brand’s striking design language and the innovative technology integration possible through our collaborative Open Platform strategy.”
Humanized communication system
The SC1 Vision Concept seamlessly integrates a new infotainment architecture with 5G connectivity and a humanized communication system with touch, voice, eye and graphical interfaces. Artificial Intelligence understands conventional language and commands, while a camera-based eye tracking system is capable of biometric identification, allowing for the multi-modal authentication of occupants. The eye-tracking system monitors a driver’s irises, eyelids and gaze – should the driver become distracted or fatigued, AI safely takes control of the vehicle.
With the use of 8 radar systems, 6 Lidar sensors, and half a dozen external cameras, the SC1 Vision Concept is fully equipped for autonomous motoring in the future. It will store information on cityscape and points of interest which are displayed in augmented reality.
Both driver and passenger can immerse themselves in comfort with an all-new surround audio system with dedicated sound environments for each of them. Karma says it will soon offer audio capabilities similar to the SC1 Vision Concept’s system through the company’s guided customization program.
New definition of luxury and style
“The SC1 Vision Concept draws its inspiration from Karma’s pioneering spirit,” said Andreas Thurner, Karma’s VP of Global Design and Architecture. “It is thought-provoking — it conjures a new definition of luxury and style with distinct Karma DNA.”
The SC1 Vision Concept features a one-off fluorescent orange paint scheme with flakes of violet mica capturing stunning sunset colours, juxtaposed by a darker palleted interior fading from black to deep indigo. A bold body design is reminiscent of an H-1 racing aircraft of the 1930s, with impressive length stretching from the car’s front axle to windscreen.
Striking patented articulating hinge doors open in a winged motion, gently rising up and forward, rotating around front wheels. The SC1 Vision Concept’s interior prioritizes simplicity and ease of use, eliminating excess to reveal a stratified design with a multi-dimensional in-cabin experience. The car’s battery is housed in a centre tunnel cascading down from dashboard into seats, before gliding upward to the decklid.
Providing ‘Mobility for All‘ is something Toyota Motor Corporation takes seriously. It is demonstrating this in its role as worldwide partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, specifically the one which will take place in Tokyo in 2020.
Besides various forms of transport that it has developed for different groups at the event, it is developing a special new product known as the Accessible People Mover (APM). This is a mobility vehicle designed expressly for use at the Games.
‘Last mile solution’
The APM will offer a ‘last one mile’ solution that helps transport as many people as possible to events and venues. These include athletes and staff related to the Games as well as all types of visitors with accessibility needs such as the elderly, people with impairments, pregnant women, and families with small children, among others. Part of the fleet of APMs, to number around 200 in total, will be used to support relief activities at events/venues during summer.
There will be two versions – a Basic Model and one with Relief specifications. The Basic Model will be for general transportation and feature 3-row seating. Up to 5 passengers can be carried and when used for passengers in wheelchairs, the configuration can be modified by folding the seats to allow the wheelchair rider in the second row.
Safety, comfort and convenience
With safety in mind, the position of the driver’s seat has been elevated and centrally located in order to allow the driver to see passengers and support their individual needs as they enter/exit the vehicle which is about 2 metres high.
The passenger seats are accessible from both sides of the vehicle, and the overall design considers varying customers’ needs, with safety bars on both sides to help passengers while entering and exiting the vehicle, and fitted with wheelchair anchor plates and ramps to enable the optimal access and transportation of wheelchair passengers.
The Relief specification is similar but has more open space to install a stretcher. In addition, to help convey people in a stable, safe way, a stretcher that can be attached/secured in the vehicle will also be equipped. There will also be space to allow 2 relief staff workers to sit immediately adjacent to the stretcher.
Needless to say, the APM – which has dimensions that are similar to a Toyota Avanza – will operate with zero emissions using a battery electric powertrain that should also be quiet. It can travel at a speed up to 19 km/h and a full charge should provide 100 kms of range.
Sunshine does good and bad things for mankind. It provides light to see better for about half the day and it helps to dry clothes. However, it can cause skin cancer and in certain conditions, even start fires. Sunshine also contains energy which can be converted into electricity and at least one study suggests that solar power can be the world’s largest source of electricity by 2050.
Unfortunately, capturing sunshine to convert it in amounts large enough for practical usage has required technologies that have taken a while to develop. In fact, research began as far back as the 1930s but it is only in the past decade that R&D has accelerated and advanced technologies have been developed which are also commercially viable.
Technological advances needed
While sunshine alone can’t power a car (the technology would need to be very, very advanced), it can be used for the battery packs in electrified vehicles. Currently, the battery packs are recharged by drawing electricity from public or household electrical supply stations or by regeneration in the car’s powertrain. Solar power can supplement this and has the potential of improving cruising range and fuel efficiency of hybrid vehicles.
In fact, Toyota has already been using the approach since 2010 in the Prius to provide power for the climate control system. In 2017, it went further by enlarging the solar panel on the roof to provide electricity for the battery pack. Later this month, NEDO (a national R&D organization in Japan), Sharp Corporation, and Toyota Motor Corporation will carry out public road trials to assess the effectiveness this approach with Sharp’s modularized high-efficiency solar battery cells.
Thin-film solar battery cells
These solar battery cells are in a thin film about 0.03 mm in thickness. This makes it possible to efficiently install the film to fit the curves of parts with limited space. The battery cells will be installed on the roof, bonnet, rear hatch door and other areas of a Toyota Prius.
The idea is, of course, to maximise the area of coverage to capture as much sunshine as possible. By enhancing the solar battery panel’s efficiency and expanding its onboard area, Toyota was able to achieve a rated power generation output of around 860 W, which is approximately 4.8-times higher in comparison with the Prius Prime’s solar charging system.
In addition to substantially boosting its power generation output, the testcar will employ a system that charges the driving battery while the vehicle is parked and also while it’s being driven, a development that is expected to lead to considerable improvements in electric-powered cruising range and fuel efficiency.
