Hyundai solar roof charging plan 02 | 11 | 2018

    HYUNDAI AND KIA will introduce solar roof charging panels for its electric, hybrid and internal combustion engine (ICE) cars from 2019. Solar charging panels have been fitted to vehicles previously, including the Toyota Prius Plug-in, but this is believed to be the first time the technology will be applied to an ICE-only car. (Related: New Hyundai i20 starts at £13,995)

    For all three powerplants — electric, hybrid and ICE — the system will use silicon solar panels which can generate up to 100W of electricity. This will then be fed through a controller to increase efficiency before being sent to a battery. (Related: Hyundai reveals all-electric Kona)

    The first of the three different type of solar panels to be developed by the Hyundai Motor Group is due to arrive next year. Fitted to hybrid models, the panels are capable of charging 30-60% of the battery during a day; that, of course, is weather dependant. more importantly, the car can then use that energy to reduce engine usage, thus increasing fuel economy and cutting CO2 emissions.

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    The second development will be specifically for  ICE-only vehicles. This features a semi-transparent solar roof that charges the vehicle's battery. Following on from that will be the third and final system which will be fitted to fully electric vehicles. This will feature solar panels on both the roof and bonnet to maximise energy output.

    Hyundai and Kia has yet to confirm which vehicles will feature the technology first; it’s also unknown when the solar panels will become available in the UK. (Related: Refreshed Kia Sportage starts at £20,305)

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    “In the future, we expect to see many different types of electricity-generating technologies integrated into our vehicles,” the developer of the technology and Hyundai Motor Group’s engineering boss, Jeong-Gil Park, said.

    “The solar roof is the first of these technologies, and will mean that automobiles no longer passively consume energy, but will begin to produce it actively.

    “It is an exciting development for us, designing a technology for vehicle owners to help them shift from being energy users to being energy producers.”

    Related: Roadtest — Kia Stonic 1.0 T-GDi

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    Jim McGill

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