Ford's new hybrid has solar cells on the roof - E24

One of Ford’s new plug-in hybrids will use new solar technology to charge the batteries.

Ford claims that solar technology will make the new Ford C-MAX Solar Energy virtually independent of charge via mains according to a press release that came out Thursday.

They have done studies that show that the sun can operate 75 percent of all trips made by an average driver.

– surveys have been conducted in North Carolina and shall have quite as sunny as London, says the head of Ford’s Department of Sustainability, Mike Tinskey, told BBC Radio.

Also read: There will soon be an end to free fast charge

First in the world

C-MAX Solar energy could become the world’s first commercial passenger who is charged via solar panels on the roof.

A day sunshine shall follow Ford could deliver the same performance as the conventional C-MAX Energi plug-in, which only charging from the mains.

The solar-powered version will be equipped with an 8 kW lithium ion battery.

Also read: Will electric cars chirp or rumble in 2014?

Video: Ford

Fresnel

Ford has joined forces with researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology to optimize the way the solar cells take in the solar energy by concentrating the sun’s rays. The researchers will develop a custom fresnel lens that allows more solar energy is captured.

According to Ford, the Fresnel lens acting as a kind of magnifying glass that follows the sun’s angle from east to west so that the solar cells during the whole day can take in enough energy to recharge the battery. It should be equivalent to four hours of battery charging via AC power.

Fresnel lenses are optical lenses of old lighthouses were used to emit more light. Now Fresnel lens pointing inward toward the solar panels.

If the sun does not show up one day, Solar Energy edition also have an input for charging as a conventional electric vehicle.

Ford C-MAX Solar Energy will be exhibited at CES 2014 in Las Vegas 7 10th January.

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case was originally published on tu.no

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