It took evolution millions and millions of years to develop photosynthesis and utilise the inherent energy of the sun's rays, but the Ford Motor company believes it has managed to do the same thing just 111 years.
And it will not simply be using light to grow and sprout a few leaves.
Ford has unveiled its C-MAX Solar Energi Concept hybrid car at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show and it uses the power of the sun's rays to recharge its own batteries.
Sustainable motoring is the most pressing concern of auto manufacturers and drivers alike and a car – albeit it a concept at the moment – that can make use of an energy source as abundant as the sun could be a major breakthrough and end the dependency on oil.
Ford claims the C-MAX Solar Energi is unique among hybrids. Ordinarily, a hybrid car would make use of both batteries and petrol or diesel. However, rather than connecting to the mains to recharge the battery-powered portion of its drivetrain, Ford's idea uses solar panels on the roof to harness the UV rays as a power source.
Solar technology is not new, but it has never been put into use in a car before. This is because even in the hottest and brightest places on Earth it is currently incapable of providing enough power to propel a multi-tonne car through the streets.
The panels used in the concept are state-of-the-art and provide around 50 per cent more power than other similarly-sized photovoltaic designs, but even this breakthrough, with this level of efficiency, can only generate about 300 watts of power, which is not to fully recharge the vehicle's 7.6kWh lithium ion battery in a single day, said Ford's global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure, Mike Tinskey.
Ford's engineers have solved the issues by the clever use of a concentrator, which works in a similar way to a magnifying glass, amplifying the intensity of the sunlight, which can be absorbed by the car's solar cells.
According to Ford, this setup, combined with a day's exposure to the sunlight, will be sufficient to offer the same level of performance as its current C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This means that a solar-powered car would be capable of an EPA-estimated 108 MPGe in urban surroundings, 92 MPGe of highway driving and a combined 100 MPGe.
Ford estimates the C-MAX Solar Energi concept's solar equipment could power up to 75 per cent of all journeys.
Other innovations include MyEnergi Lifestyle, a concept revealed by Ford last year, which makes use of advanced algorithms, science and computers to model how best to use electric appliances and passes the information on to drivers who can use it to lower their overall carbon footprint.
Altogether, the company predicts the positive environmental impact from Ford C-MAX Solar Energi could reduce one driver's yearly CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions by up to four metric tonnes – the equivalent of what a US family home produces every four months.
The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is a collaboration between Ford, SunPower Corp and the Atlanta-based Georgia Institute of Technology and went on display for the first time in Las Vegas this week.
Posted by George Davis