Toyota engineers are testing an improved version of solar panels placed on the surface of a car to collect additional energy. The company previously launched an exclusive version of the Toyota Prius PHV in Japan, which uses solar panels developed by Sharp and national research organization NEDO.
It is worth noting that the new system is significantly more efficient than the one used in the Prius PHV. The efficiency of solar panel prototype cells has increased to 34%, while the same indicator for panels used in the production Prius PHV is 22,5%. Such an increase will allow charging not only auxiliary devices, but also the engine itself. According to official data, the new solar panels will increase the range by 56,3 km.
The company's engineers use recycled film for solar panels. A significantly larger surface area of ββthe car is used to accommodate the cells. In addition, the system is fully functional even when the vehicle is moving, which is a significant step forward compared to previous developments.
It is expected that test versions of cars with new solar panels will appear on public roads in Japan at the end of July. The capabilities of the system will be tested in different regions of the country, which will give an idea of ββthe performance in different weather and road conditions. The ultimate goal of Toyota engineers is to prepare the new system for commercial introduction to the market. The company intends to introduce a more efficient solar energy technology that can be used in various types of vehicles in the future.
Source: 3dnews.ru