Mercedes-Benz has revealed the Vision Iconic EV show car, an EV concept that bridges the past and future and which showcases a solar coating solution that can extend electric vehicle range.
The ultra-thin solar modules can be applied directly to a vehicle’s body “similar to a wafer-thin paste”. This photovoltaic-active surface adapts to different materials and, the company says, could generate enough energy for up to 12,000km per year under ideal conditions on a car the size of a mid-size SUV (11m2 ).
Free of rare earths and silicon, the recyclable coating’s solar cells have a high efficiency of 20% and continue producing power even when the vehicle is switched off.
In related news, BMW launches demo fleet run on vegetable oil and calls for sustainability-led action