12,000 free kilometers every year. This is what Mercedes is up to with the development of a new type of solar cell coating on cars. Specifically, the cars must be smeared into a thin paste.
Mercedes plans to develop a special paint with built-in solar cells that will make it possible for their electric cars to cover up to 12,000 extra kilometers per year using solar energy alone. The idea is based on a technology where thin solar cell layers are integrated directly into the car's surface.
According to the manufacturer, the solar cells used must be extremely thin – only around five micrometres – and can be applied to the car body as a form of paste.
This is written by Bild .
To protect the solar cells, Mercedes uses a lacquer based on nanotechnology that is able to let up to 94 percent of the sun's energy pass through. The technology only adds about 50 grams of extra weight per square meters for the car.
With an efficiency of 20 percent, under optimal conditions, the solar paint can generate energy equivalent to 12,000 kilometers per year for a car with a surface area of approximately 11 square meters, as is the case, for example, for a medium-sized SUV.
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Mercedes points to two scenarios: In Stuttgart, where Mercedes has its headquarters, an average car from the brand covers approximately 52 kilometers per day.
Here, up to 62 percent of the energy consumption can be covered using solar energy. In sunny areas like Los Angeles, the solar cells can potentially generate energy for 100 percent of the daily traffic.
The technology is still under development and Mercedes has not yet released details about the cell technology used.
However, it is emphasized that the production of the paint must be environmentally friendly and will not use silicon, but instead materials that are easily available, non-toxic and easy to recycle. In addition, this method is expected to be cheaper to manufacture than traditional solar modules.
It will take time for the technology to be ready for commercial use. Mercedes is still working on developing methods that ensure that the solar paint can be applied effectively to the entire surface of the car, regardless of the shape and inclination of the individual parts.
