BERLIN: Insufficient electric engine range and poor charging infrastructure are still keeping some drivers from buying electric cars – and this is why Audi wants to boost its recharging capabilities on the road by using solar cells as another means to give cars extra juice.
The German carmaker has announced that a first prototype for solar charging will be completed by the end of 2017. Initially, a film with solar cells will be installed in existing panoramic glass roofs. The cells will be very thin, and will also work in low light or low heat.
To begin with, the electricity will flow into the electrical system to supply energy to the air-conditioning system or seat heating. This, in turn, extends the car's electric range.
Further ahead, the entire roof will have solar cells, with the project aiming to eventually shift solar power directly to the vehicle's drive. For the project, Audi is teaming up with a subsidiary of a Chinese solar cell company.
