by Mercedes is working on solar “paint” that could provide electric vehicles with thousands of miles of range annually. This amounts to about 24 miles per day under ideal conditions, reducing the need for charging. The company is also working on other projects to make future vehicles safer and more efficient. Electric vehicles have come a long way, but they still have significant hurdles to overcome. One of the biggest drawbacks is charging, but Mercedes is working on an ingenious solution to address this.
Known as “solar paint,” the company is exploring new types of solar modules that can be seamlessly applied to car bodies. These efforts could ultimately pave the way for a thin layer of paint that could generate enough electricity to cover over 8,699 miles (14,000 km) per year. Such progress is significant, but it is “under ideal conditions” in Beijing. It is also worth noting that this is less than 24 miles (39 km) per day, so it likely won’t completely replace traditional charging. Nevertheless, gaining a charge simply by parking on the street has many advantages, and many companies are exploring this potential.
In Mercedes’ case, they are looking at an active photovoltaic surface with solar cells that have an efficiency rate of 20 percent. Speaking of electric vehicles, Mercedes is working on a programmable microconverter that can be installed at the battery level. This would make it possible to regulate individual batteries and improve electric vehicles. As the automaker explained, “Current research shows that it is possible to provide a constant HV [high voltage] output of 800 volts, regardless of the charge level and state of health of individual batteries.” This could pave the way for greater range, optimized energy flow for bidirectional charging, and new levels of freedom for modulation. Even brakes are not overlooked, as the company is researching “innovative, more durable brakes” that are no longer located on the wheel.
Instead, they are integrated into a sealed motor-transmission unit. The automaker does not disclose many details but notes that the new brakes are “almost wear-free and virtually maintenance-free.” The new mechanism also does not rust, emit solid particles, or lose effectiveness under heavy loads. It is also promised to be less noisy and to have a positive impact on range and efficiency. Finally, Mercedes is collaborating with the University of Waterloo in Canada on neuromorphic computing. This mimics the way the human brain thinks and can “significantly make artificial intelligence computations more energy-efficient and faster.”
Mercedes is interested because safety systems could better recognize traffic signs, lanes, and other road users and react faster, even in conditions of limited visibility.
These efforts can also be up to ten times more efficient.
