The heat and light generated by the daily activities of the sun can shine on us every day, and solar panel technology has been converting light energy into electricity for decades. So why is it that every electric car on the road is not equipped with solar panels? Why are more and more people using solar panels to collect light energy and convert it into electricity, rather than using the power grid? Is it cost? Perhaps it is, but the more reason is sustainable development.
The fundamental reason why solar panels are not used in every electric vehicle is that the car does not have enough space to lay solar panels. If we don’t delve into the technical details, there won’t be enough space to install a large enough solar panel power generation system (commonly referred to as an “array”) on top of the car to meet the charging needs of the battery. If any, every electric vehicle manufacturer on Earth may install an array (or offer it as an option) on each sold car.
Previously, solar panels were first installed on the surface of car roofs, but when the car is parked in a hot area, solar energy only does some things, such as running the air conditioning or cooling fans, and it does not charge the battery (after all, it is a hybrid vehicle). Now, it does. What has changed? Previously, solar panel arrays could not generate enough power (voltage) to match the battery voltage.
Can I fully charge my car when I go home by parking it in the sun for a whole day? This depends on the power of the solar panel and the capacity of the car battery. If the solar panel power is large enough, it is not a problem to be fully charged. If it’s close to home, there’s definitely no problem. This is a free power source that does not require payment, which is very attractive to many consumers, so it is also true for car manufacturers. But currently, the amount of electricity that a small panel can generate… is very small, and it is more likely to be implemented in hybrid vehicles, which are affected by too many uncertain factors in pure electric vehicles.
In summary, the efficiency of solar panels will continue to improve and the cost will also continue to decrease. Battery technology will continue to improve, ultimately achieving the same charging time as refueling with liquid fuel – or possibly faster. It is certain that we live in the early stages of the electric vehicle revolution, just like the early days of internal combustion engine vehicles, where technology, infrastructure, and costs are constantly being improved through innovation, improvement, and new ideas.
If you want to know more about solar panels, please contact us, the solar panel manufacturer – Huanqi Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.