by With growing awareness around climate change and sustainability, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular. At the same time, solar energy is also gaining widespread acceptance. Bringing these two clean technologies together can help drive the adoption of both electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. Solar modules aim to do just that by powering electric vehicles directly using solar power.
What are solar modules?
EV Solar Modules, also known as solar panels for EV Solar Modules, are photovoltaic panels that are installed on electric vehicles to charge their batteries using solar energy. These modules convert sunlight directly into electricity that can be stored in the EV’s battery and used to power the electric motor. Typically made of monocrystalline silicon or polycrystalline silicon solar cells, solar modules are flexible enough to be integrated into different parts of the electric vehicle like the roof, bonnet, rear trunk or other exterior parts.
Advantages of using solar energy to charge electric vehicles
There are several compelling advantages of using solar power to charge electric vehicles:
Renewable and sustainable energy source: Solar energy is a renewable resource that will never run out as long as the sun is shining. Generating electricity from the sun reduces dependence on fossil fuels and emissions from electricity production.
Independence from the electric grid: solar modules allow electric vehicles to be charged anywhere using only sunlight, giving more freedom and flexibility compared to being tied to the electric grid for charging. Off-grid and remote areas can also access electric mobility through solar charging.
Energy security: Relying on solar energy improves energy security by decentralizing energy production. In times of blackouts or disaster situations, electric vehicles with solar modules still get power from the sun.
Lower fuel costs: Free and abundant sunlight as a fuel dramatically cuts the operating costs of electric vehicles compared to petrol or diesel. Over the life of the vehicle, solar charging can save thousands in energy bills.
Potential for vehicle-to-grid: Advanced solar modules may one day enable bidirectional power flow allowing electric vehicles to share stored solar power back to the electric grid or other devices, providing utilities with distributed energy storage resources.
Reduced carbon footprint: Combining zero-emission electric transport with a renewable energy source like solar leads to the lowest possible emissions over the vehicle’s lifespan compared to fuel-powered cars or electric vehicles charged using electricity from fossil fuels.
Challenges of EV solar charging
While the concept of solar electric vehicles holds enormous promise, there are still technical and practical challenges that need to be overcome:
Space constraints: Integrating enough solar panels to provide meaningful charge levels within the limited exterior space of a passenger vehicle is difficult. Large panels increase drag and weight.
Efficiency and location factors: Solar panel performance depends on factors like location, weather, time of day and shading that reduces actual charging ability below module ratings. Optimal tilt and orientation have to change based on sun position.
Battery capacity concerns: Even with large solar arrays, trickle charging electric vehicles may not add significant driving range per day unless batteries with higher storage capacity are used.
Cost comparisons: Upfront costs of high-capacity solar modules and batteries currently make solar EVs much more expensive than conventional electric cars. Payback periods need to fall below vehicle lifespans for widespread commercial viability.
Standardization and regulation: Lack of standards around safety, performance ratings and integration of large solar arrays on electric vehicles is slowing wider adoption. Regulations also need updates for solar charger use.
Research and development focus
To mainstream solar electric vehicles, research is examining improved materials, designs and systems integration across automakers, energy companies and research institutions worldwide:
Thinner, flexible solar cells: Newer materials like perovskites and tandem cells may enable folding or roll-up thin-film solar panels conforming better to vehicle surfaces at lower costs.
Higher efficiency panels: R&D targets raising overall solar module conversion efficiency above 30% from current maxima around 26% to extract more power from same physical area.
Integrated designs: Concepts embed solar generators, batteries and powertrains directly into roofs, doors and other body panels rather than add-on components.
Solar + storage systems: Combining roof-mounted solar arrays, batteries in cargo areas and bidirectional charging optimizes the energy generation and storage process.
Accessories and aftermarkets: Automakers may offer solar rooftop upgrades or manufacturers provide plug-and-play solar kits for existing electric vehicle fleets.
Mobile charging infrastructure: New business models provide portable solar generators, sun-tracking solar canopies for EV parking and touch-less charging technologies.
While solar electric vehicles are still in early adoption phase, advancements across materials, designs and systems integration are bringing this synergistic solution closer to mainstream viability. With continued R&D support and falling costs, solar-powered EVs have the potential to accelerate the global transition to renewable energy powered transport. Standardization efforts and new infrastructure models can help realize the full sustainable benefits of this promising technology for personal, public and commercial electric mobility applications.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research.
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
