Solar Cars: The Future of Green Transportation?

Solar-powered cars face significant challenges due to limited space for solar panels and high energy requirements for driving. Some companies, like Lightyear, are developing solar EVs but face financial and technical hurdles.Major automakers, including Hyundai, are incorporating solar panels into battery EVs to extend their range.

The EV boom is here, as major automakers and many new startups roll out a wide array of EV models, and consumer interest continues to grow. This has been largely encouraged by government pressure to shift away from fossil fuels to green alternatives, with some countries introducing a ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within the next 15 years. However, while the battery EV sector is growing, other green vehicle technologies are lagging, including hydrogen fuel cell EVs and solar EVs. Teams of researchers across the globe are trying to crack the code to deliver solar-powered cars, with varying success, and little hope of a commercial rollout any time soon. 

Several major EV companies are expected to include vehicle-integrated PVs as an add-on or as standard in new EV models, to offer consumers a longer range on a single charge. Hyundai, for example, includes a solar roof in its new Sonata Hybrid and is expected to include it in other models moving forward. This suggests that automakers are looking to solar power to boost EV performance, rather than replace conventional charging methods. Adding solar panels could provide between 30 to 60 percent of the battery charge through solar power, according to Hyundai, which is greatly promising for consumers looking for a longer range from their EVs. As solar panel and EV technology continue to improve, we are likely to see far more companies offering solar charging options in their EVs.