Hanergy to Launch Solar-Powered Electric Cars

Chinese company Hanergy has announced plans to roll out electric cars powered by rooftop solar panels.

The solar panel manufacturer is set to partner with five automakers (three international, two Chinese) to create five models that will be launched in October 2015. Few details have been announced about the designs, although they are expected to have a range of around 100km.

Known for its thin film solar panels, Hanergy previously collaborated with British brand Aston Martin in 2012 to create a solar-panelled racing car. It is currently working with US-based electric car manufacturer Tesla to introduce a network of charging stations across China.

Although still yet to make up a large sector of the automotive market, interest in electric cars is steadily growing, with several commercial launches seen at the North American Auto Show 2015. A number of recent concepts have also experimented with alternative forms of power, including Ford's C-Max Solar Energi and the Mercedes-Benz Vision G-Code, which generates fuel through a multi-voltaic paint.

As identified in our Sustainable Futures Innovation Platform, we expect to increasingly see technology powered from within, providing off-grid power on demand. For more examples, see Naturally Energised.