Mercedes Working on Solar Paint To Charge Car
Mercedes-Benz is developing an innovative “solar paint” that can generate electricity when applied to a car’s exterior, potentially powering thousands of miles of driving annually. This ultra-lightweight paint, made from non-toxic, recyclable materials, offers significant energy efficiency without using rare earth materials or silicon.
With a mid-sized SUV’s surface area (11 square meters), the paint could produce enough energy for up to 12,000 kilometers (7,456 miles) of driving annually under ideal conditions. The energy could directly power the car’s motors or recharge its battery, even while parked. In sunnier regions like Los Angeles, it might fully meet an average driver’s energy needs, with surplus energy potentially fed into home grids via bidirectional charging.
Believed to be a perovskite-based material, the paint faces challenges in durability against water and UV exposure. While still in the research phase, the technology holds promise for extending EV range and reducing dependency on charging, making vehicle exteriors part of their energy solution.