Hyundai is launching its first car with a solar roof charging system that will improve the cars fuel efficiency while preventing battery discharge and reducing CO2 emissions. This groundbreaking eco-friendly technology will make its debut on the new Sonata Hybrid.
The solar roof system can charge the vehicle’s battery up 30% to 60% per day using solar panels even while driving. It is expected to increase drivers’ travel distance by an extra 1,300 km annually with 6 hours of daily charging.
Hyundai plans to roll out the technology to other vehicles across its range in the coming years. The company is on a mission to advance the mobility industry towards a more sustainable future. Part of the mission involves smart solutions like this technology being applied to new cars.
Solar roof technology is a great example of how Hyundai is moving towards becoming a clean mobility provider. Hyundai is currently striving to further expand the application of the technology beyond eco-friendly vehicle line up to vehicles with an internal combustion engine, says Heui Won Yang, Senior Vice President and Head of Body Tech Unit of Hyundai Motor Group.
The solar roof system is composed of a structure of silicon solar panels that are mounted on the car’s roof and a controller. When solar energy activates the solar panels, the panels convert that energy into electricity by using photons of light from the sun. The electricity from this process is converted to the standard voltage by the controller. Then, it is stored in the battery.
The new Sonata Hybrid is also equipped with the world’s first Active Shift Control (ASC) technology; a hybrid-exclusive design with enhanced dynamic elements; a Smartstream G2.0 GDi HEV engine and 6-speed hybrid transmission; and a ‘Digital Key’ function via a dedicated smartphone app. Furthermore, Hyundai Motor took efficiency and design into account while developing the solar charging system.
At the moment, the solar roof system only plays a supporting role. Nevertheless, it opens up perspectives for vehicles no longer need fossil fuel to operate. The new Sonata is already on sale in Korea. It will soon be on sale in North America as well.
