Solar power for cars can be a great choice if you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint. Many car manufacturers offer hybrid systems and solar panels. Lightyear 0, for example, is one model. Maruti Suzuki and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid are other examples.
Lightyear 0.
The Lightyear 0 car with solar power has been in development for a number of years. However, it's still a long way from being ready for the streets. It is very similar to the Tesla Model 0 but has some significant differences. Despite the smaller battery, it is still significantly more powerful than the Model 0 because of its aerodynamic design.
The Lightyear 0 solar car offers a remarkable range of up to 388 miles. It can also reduce the time you spend at the charging station. Lightyear states that a driver can drive for up to seven years in sunny climates without having to plug in their car. In cloudy areas, charging is required after two years.
Sono Motors
Sono Motors was started in a Munich garage 10 year ago. It had the vision of using solar energy to power a vehicle. It was able to see that solar power could be used in order to accelerate the adoption of electric cars. Most Germans rent apartments, so they are often unable plug their cars into the electrical socket to charge. Solar panels on a car can significantly increase the range.
The Sion solar car is one of the first solar cars to be produced by Sono Motors. This crossover battery-electric car uses solar cells for electricity generation and to extend the battery's reach. Despite its high-tech design, Sono Motors is not yet ready to begin deliveries of its first vehicle.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
If you are looking to make your Sonata Hybrid even more eco-friendly, there is a solar roof available. Hyundai is not the first to utilize this technology. Toyota made the first decision to put solar panels on its Prius' roof in 2012. But, the solar roofing didn't work out very well. It only offered secondary power. It also did not increase range.
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid's roof-mounted solar panels are highly efficient and produce 22.8% of its power requirements. This is significantly more than the standard rooftop solar panel that achieves a rate only of 1519%. However, the panels' efficiency can be affected by external conditions. Dead leaves or tarnished roofs, for example, can decrease production by up to 310%.
Maruti Suzuki
Maruti Suzuki is a big proponent of renewable energy, and its new solar power plant in Manesar is an example of the company's commitment to the environment. In 2014, a 1MW-sized solar plant was set up in the area. It was later increased to 1.3MW. The company will have more than 6.3 MW annually of solar power, which is enough to power Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing facilities.
Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing facility in Gurugram will be powered entirely by solar energy. To generate energy for the plant, the carmaker plans on installing photovoltaic solar cells in the form of carports. Solar panels will provide clean energy as well as protection for cars parked underneath them from severe climatic conditions. To meet its manufacturing needs at Gurugram, the company currently uses grid power and a natural-gas-based captive power station.