Webasto unveils vehicle-integrated PV system covering rear window, roof area
Webasto, a German automotive industry supplier and developer of vehicle integrated PV, unveiled a new sun roof system concept with components that are 40% lighter and a capacity of 350 kWh per year.
Citroën lightweight compact EV equipped with solar kits
La Croisière Verte is the name of a 13,500 km expedition from the north to south of Africa in a fleet of four Citroën AMI vehicles, each carrying 5,600 W of lightweight PV panels in foldable packs.
Taking a stand for the climate
Stanford University professor Mark Z. Jacobson spoke to pv magazine about testifying in support of young US climate activists and revealed which technologies he thinks will be most useful for the energy transition.
Timber framed solar carports for residential, commercial applications
Sweden-based Innoventum has launched a solar carport line equipped with bifacial modules in a larch wood structure. The solution may include electric vehicle charging, energy storage, LED lighting, and inverter systems.
New coating prevents plant growth on underwater solar cells
The US Navy has funded Danish research on preventing biofouling while maintaining visible light transmission on underwater solar cells. The top solution uses ultra-low concentrations of nano-sized, seawater-soluble pigments. Power generation stayed close to 100% after 13 weeks underwater.
Bee Solar, Huasun sign MoU to develop gigawatt-scale European supply chain
The Italian company and Huasun Energy are teaming up to produce wafers, cells and modules for the European market, with the aim to be the most cost-competitive in Europe. The two companies are working to start production in 2026.
Grid backlog drives innovative approaches in Brazil
The rapid growth of renewable energy in Brazil has not been matched by transmission and distribution infrastructure. Connection restrictions for both “distributed-” and centralized-generation sites are leading companies to adopt new strategies to maintain expansion, reports pv magazine Brasil’s Livia Neves.
Live from Intersolar 2024: Vitirover begins mass production of autonomous robot mowers
The mower-robots are produced north of Bordeaux and are designed to maintain steep terrain or terrain with high obstacle density, such as solar power plants. The company is also launching a €2 million fund-raising campaign to accelerate commercial development.
Europe says China’s EV value chain benefits from unfair subsidies
The European Union plans to impose tariffs of up to 38% on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China, as an ongoing investigation into imports has shown that the value chain benefits from unfair subsidies.
Crash test for lightweight 4-seater solar cars
Researchers at the University of Bologna carried out crash simulations to qualify a novel solar powered 350 kg passenger vehicle for the next edition of the 3,000 km Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) across the Australian continent.
