Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics

Tremendous decline in costs for solar power generation enables new applications in the transport sector. Electric vehicles with integrated PV modules achieve longer ranges, vehicles with combustion engines save fuel and reduce their emissions, and transport routes can also be operated as power stations.

Compared to conventional PV installations, modules on vehicles and traffic routes are exposed to very demanding loads. At Fraunhofer ISE, we develop solar modules that meet these extreme requirements.

We offer a comprehensive range of services for PV applications in the mobility sector, including yield assessment and analysis of PV systems, the development of solar modules or electronic applications, as well as economic considerations.

Selected Press Releases

 

Press Release - 25.10.2021

Electric Truck with Fully Integrated Photovoltaics Picks Up Speed

A heavy-duty truck weighing 18 tons and equipped with a 3.5 kilowatt-peak photovoltaic system is now driving on Germany's roads. The commercial vehicle with integrated high-voltage photovoltaic system and feed-in to the 800-volt traction battery has been approved for road traffic.

 

Press Release - 03.04.2020

Vehicle-integrated PV for Electrical Commercial Vehicles

Heavy-load vehicle traffic is responsible for 6 percent of the CO2 emissions in the European Union. Solar electricity generated directly on the vehicle can improve this balance by 5 to 7 percent. In the “Lade-PV” project will explore the market feasibility of PV applications in the heavy-load transport. 

 

Press Release - 02.09.2019

Fraunhofer ISE Presents Colored Solar Car Roof at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA)

To extend the driving range of electric vehicles, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has developed a solar car roof with highly efficient solar cells.

Selected Research Projects

 

Lade-PV

The project "Lade-PV" is intended to demonstrate the marketability of PV applications in freight transport.

 

PV2Go

Solar Potentials of German Traffic Routes

Download Flyer: Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics

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    In order to determine the solar radiation potential of passenger cars, we are currently investigating and measuring solar radiation on German roads as part of a citizen science campaign with 80 vehicles. The data will be used in new simulation models for solar radiation on traffic routes. This would allow drivers to calculate how far they could drive with solar energy, at what time and on which route.

    download [ PDF  1.08 MB ]
  • Solar Modules Integrated in Trucks and Vans

     

    In recent years, photovoltaic modules have become increasingly attractive for the transportation industry due to reduced prices and technological innovations. The roofs of large commercial vehicles are particularly suitable for the integration of lightweight photovoltaic (PV) modules.

    download [ PDF  3.25 MB ]