The concept that new high-tech solar coatings could power vehicles is just one of the advanced experiments being explored by Mercedes Benz.
Mercedes Benz VISION EQXX technology programme is researching new technologies aimed at shaping mobility in an electrified future and includes a host of radical and innovative R&D concepts that could solve future problems.
These include new braking systems, augmented reality systems for drivers, robo -taxis and drone based logistic deliveries at rethinking transport in three key cities London, Los Angeles and Shenzen beyond 2040.
Paint with Power
Mercedes Benz says the developments in solar paint area could generate enough electricity for more than 12,000 km per year
These coatings are five 5 micrometres thick, significantly thinner than a human hair, weigh just 50 grams per square metre and are packed full of energy, it says in a .
Mercedes-Benz is researching a new type of solar modules that could be seamlessly applied to the bodywork of electric vehicles – similar to a wafer-thin layer of paste. The active photovoltaic surface can be applied to any substrate.
The solar cells have a high efficiency of 20 per cent and an area of 11 square metres ro equivalent to the surface of a mid-size SUV, could produce energy for up to 12,000 kilometres a year under ideal conditions, it says.
The energy generated by the solar cells is used for driving or fed directly into the high-voltage battery. The photovoltaic system is permanently active and also generates energy when the vehicle is switched off. In future, this could be a highly effective solution for increased electric range and fewer charging stops.
The experiments have looked at different scenarios depending on levels of shade, the intensity of the sun and geographical location.
Their examples indicate a Mercedes-Benz drivers in Stuttgart, Germany covering average of 52 kilometres a day, would have 62 per cent of its travel covered using solar energy.
Sustainable
In Los Angeles, the driver could cover 100 per cent of their driving distance on average by solar energy and a s surplus could be fed directly into the home network or the grid with bidirectional charging.
Mercedes says the the solar paint contains no rare earths and no silicon, only non-toxic and readily available raw materials. It is easy to recycle and considerably cheaper to produce than conventional solar modules. The Mercedes-Benz research department is currently working to enable use of the new solar paint on all exterior vehicle surfaces – regardless of their shape and angle.
Long tradition
Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement, and Board Member Markus Schäfer says this was just one of the innovatins being explored by a company that has been at the forefront for shaping the future of obility for over a century.
“Innovative strength was and is among the most important driving forces of Mercedes-Benz,” Schäfer says. “Our brand has been shaping automotive progress for almost 140 years with pioneering technologies.
“For us, innovation only makes sense if it offers our customers real added value. Their perfect composition is what makes a Mercedes a Mercedes. That’s why we believe progress means developing innovative technologies in dialogue with society. It’s how we maintain our innovative power and create a new kind of automotive experience.”
A more sustainable in-drive brake
Mercedes Benz is also working on a brake system that is aerodynamic and virtually maintenance free.
As electric vehicles brake primarily through recuperation, Mercedes-Benz is taking a pioneering new direction in the development of mechanical brakes. The innovative, more sustainable brake currently under research no longer occupies its conventional location inside the wheel. Instead, it is integrated into the electric drive unit at the front or rear axle.
“It occupies very little space – and according to the latest research, is subject to minimal wear, doesn’t rust and is virtually maintenance-free. This would make it very durable and reliable. In addition, there would be no particulate emissions into the atmosphere. Braking noise and brake cleaning could also become a thing of the past. The braking effect is easy to control and does not fade even under heavy loads.”
The innovative design also enables a significantly lighter wheel/tyre combination and therefore lower unsprung mass, which, in turn, improves ride characteristics. In addition, it would facilitate fully closed rims for optimised aerodynamics, as openings for brake cooling would no longer be required.