Although the industry has somewhat become "immune" to the "new forces in automobile manufacturing," Sharp's announcement of entering the automotive industry has still attracted widespread attention and discussion. On September 8, Sharp announced that it would officially launch its electric vehicle (EV) business. Sharp's Managing Executive Officer Mototaka Taniguchi stated that the company plans to launch its self-developed electric vehicle in a few years, and its prototype, a concept electric vehicle named LDK+, will be unveiled at the technology exhibition "Tech-Day" starting on September 17. Interestingly, in addition to its large screen and artificial intelligence technology, this vehicle is also equipped with batteries and solar panels that can be connected to the home. Many people have been actively exploring and pursuing the mass production of solar-powered cars, with repeated failures but persistent efforts. However, very few have truly completed the commercialization loop. Will Sharp's involvement now accelerate the arrival of once-distant solar-powered cars?

Always exploring, never giving up

According to information disclosed by Sharp, from September 17 to September 18, Sharp will unveil its electric vehicle concept car, the "LDK+", at the 24th Technology Day held at the Tokyo International Forum. It is reported that this concept car will be developed in collaboration with Foxconn and Folofly Corporation, based on Foxconn's open electric vehicle platform.

According to introductions, the "LDK+" concept car is an electric vehicle that treats the interior as an "extended living room", integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to showcase cutting-edge AIoT applications. The rear of the LDK+ will be equipped with a large LCD screen, and by rotating the rear seats, the vehicle can instantly transform into a private cinema or children's play area, suitable for remote work or seamless communication with family members through the large screen. Notably, this vehicle is also equipped with batteries and solar panels that can be connected to the home. AI will enable optimal integrated energy management between the home and the electric vehicle. In case of a power outage due to disaster, the electricity stored in the batteries can also be used in the home.

In fact, people have never stopped exploring solar-powered cars since the first solar-powered car was successfully developed in the UK in 1978. In 1982, Mexico developed a three-wheeled solar car capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h; in November 1987, Australia hosted the World Solar Challenge, a 3,200 km solar car rally attended by 25 solar cars from seven countries, with the American "Sunraycer" winning the championship; in 1999, researchers at the University of São Paulo in Brazil designed a new solar car capable of reaching speeds exceeding 100 km/h; in the 2003 Australian Solar Challenge, the "Nuna II" solar car built by Dutch students won the championship, setting a new world record for the highest speed of a solar car at 170 km/h; in June 2005, Belgium unveiled its first solar car in Brussels, capable of reaching speeds of 150 km/h; and in 2021, Toshiba announced the successful development of a new "transmissive cuprous oxide (Cu2O) solar cell" with a power generation efficiency of up to 8.4%, considered the world's best solar cell.

However, comprehensively speaking, the above-mentioned solar cars are still in the experimental or research stage, mostly for technology demonstration or research purposes, and may not have truly considered the challenges of mass production.

Solar cars have achieved mass production before

But in fact, solar cars have achieved mass production before.

In June 2022, Lightyear, a Dutch electric vehicle company, launched the world's first mass-produced solar car, the Lightyear 0, with an initial production plan of 946 units priced at €250,000 (approximately RMB 1.85 million). The company reportedly received around 150 pre-orders.

According to public information, the Lightyear 0 is equipped with curved solar panels on its hood and roof, capable of driving for two months without charging in Amsterdam during summer and seven months in Portugal, with solar power supplementing up to 70 km of range per day. In cloudy conditions without sunlight, it can still provide a range of 35 km for short-distance commuting or errands. Notably, the Lightyear 0 does not rely solely on solar power, with battery reserves playing a crucial role in long-distance driving.

Unfortunately, early last year, Atlas Technologies BV, the company responsible for producing the Lightyear 0, filed for bankruptcy and received court approval, effectively ending the Lightyear 0 project. According to public reports, only a dozen vehicles were produced before production ceased.

It is worth mentioning that automakers have also been exploring the possibility of solar cars becoming a reality. In 2010, Toyota equipped the hybrid Prius with optional solar panels, which were later removed due to uncertainties, but were reintroduced in the 2017 Prius Prime to power the hybrid system's battery pack; in 2021, Tesla applied for a patent for solar panels specifically for the Cybertruck, although these panels are not intended to be the primary power source for the electric vehicle but rather an auxiliary power option; in 2021, XPeng Motors launched the XPeng P5, which can be optionally equipped with a 62W solar roof to recharge the vehicle while driving or parked, with charging progress viewable through the in-car system or mobile phone; in September 2022, Chery Automobile unveiled a GENE brand concept car at the "Yaoguang 2025 Chery Technology DAY" event, powered by electric drive and solar energy; and in March of this year, Geely's patent for a "solar charging system and automobile for vehicle bodies" was granted.

The dream is still far from reality

Whether in terms of current technology levels or cost considerations, relying solely on solar power to drive cars is still a distant prospect. Would it be more reliable to consider solar power as an auxiliary energy source?

In 2022, one of the highlights of the Guangqiaotoyota bZ4X was its "solar dome," which, according to official data, could generate 243.7 kWh of electricity per year, providing a range of 1,750 km, with an optional price of RMB 20,000. Some netizens did the math: based on a rate of 1.5 yuan/kWh, a car equipped with a solar dome could save RMB 365.55 per year in electricity costs. However, the optional feature costs an additional RMB 20,000, meaning it would take 51 years to recoup the cost, which is clearly unrealistic and uneconomical.

This does not deter startups from exploring alternative paths. In August this year, US-based GoSun launched an electric vehicle solar charging box weighing approximately 32 kg and 12.7 cm tall, equipped with a 200W solar panel capable of boosting total output power to 1,200W. Under ideal conditions, this charging box can add approximately 50 km of range to an electric vehicle per day, with a pre-sale price of USD 2,999. Based on a rate of 1.5 yuan/kWh and a maximum practical range of 32 km, the investment could be recouped in about ten years. While this is not yet an ideal solar energy replenishment product, it represents a significant step forward in terms of economic costs.

On the other hand, automakers such as Toyota and Ford are targeting perovskite solar cells, which have lower costs than traditional silicon-based solar panels and can be used as coatings on car bodies to generate solar power, or even embedded in window glass, offering more possibilities for the development of solar cars. In addition, some companies have already launched products such as solar-powered RVs and campers, exploring more feasible solutions for the application of photovoltaic technology in the automotive field.

Regardless, we should not be overly pessimistic about the future of solar cars. After all, technological progress is beyond imagination, and dreams are still worth having, just in case they come true.

Images: From the internet

Article: Auto Vision

Typesetting: Auto Vision