According to ITPna and citing Interesting Engineering, Chinese automaker FAW Hongqi unveiled a prototype solar roof that uses next-generation perovskite photovoltaic technology to turn part of the electric vehicle into a power generator.
This full-scale prototype, installed on the Hongqi EHS7 electric SUV, can produce up to 300 watts of power in sufficient sunlight and generate about 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
According to reports, Hongqi has integrated perovskite photovoltaic elements directly into the EHS7's panoramic roof, which is sold in China under the name Tiangong 08.
Unlike conventional crystalline silicon solar cells, perovskite-based photovoltaics can be thinner, lighter, and more flexible, making them better suited for curved surfaces and complex shapes of modern cars.
Hongqi researchers, to address the sensitivity of perovskite materials to water, oxygen, and ultraviolet radiation, have matched the photovoltaic layer to the curved glass surface of the panoramic roof.
The electricity generated is not necessarily used solely to charge the vehicle’s main battery; it can help supply low-voltage electrical loads such as air conditioning and monitoring systems. The bigger ambition goes beyond the roof. Hongqi plans to explore integrating perovskite photovoltaic elements into other body panels including the car’s hood.
If a sufficient area is covered with solar cells, the company estimates a vehicle could produce up to 10 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, which in theory could translate to an additional 80 kilometers of range in favorable conditions.
However, the actual energy produced depends on factors such as sunlight intensity, weather, and parking location, and Hongqi has not provided a specific timeline for bringing this technology to production vehicles.