The use of solar panels in electric cars to help charge batteries is no longer new. However the Kia , together with Hyundai, wanted to go further and will also equip its internal combustion models with solar panels in order to increase efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Kia thus becomes the first brand to do so worldwide, with solar panels being incorporated into the roof and bonnet, and they are divided into three types.
The first type or generation (as the brand defines it) is intended to be used in hybrid vehicles, the second uses a semi-transparent roof and will be used in models with internal combustion engines only, finally the third consists of a lightweight solar roof that will be installed on 100% electric models.
How do they work?
The system used in the hybrid models consists of a structure of silicon solar panels, integrated into a conventional roof, capable of charging between 30% and 60% of the battery throughout the day. The solution used in internal combustion models will charge the battery they use and is integrated into a conventional panoramic roof.
Subscribe to our newsletter here
The third generation, aimed at electric cars, is still in the testing period. It was designed to be installed not only on the roof but also on the bonnet of the models and aims to maximize energy efficiency.
The system consists of a solar panel, a controller and a battery. A panel with a capacity of 100 W can produce up to 100 Wh under ideal conditions, while the controller has the services of a system called Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) which controls voltage and current, improving the efficiency of the electricity generated by the panel.
Finally, this energy is either converted and stored in the battery or is used to reduce the load on the car's alternating current (AC) generator, increasing the efficiency of the set.
The first generation of this technology is expected to arrive in Kia models from 2019 onwards, however it is not yet known which models will benefit from these panels.