Mercedes to develop solar paint that could revolutionise electric vehicles

The company’s engineers are researching a new type of solar modules that ‘could be seamlessly applied to the bodywork of electric vehicles (EVs)’.

Compared to a wafer-thin layer of paste. at 5 micrometres, it is significantly thinner than a human hair, weighing just 50 grams per square metre and, according to Mercedes-Benz, ‘packed full of energy’.

The photovoltaic surface covering an area of 11 square metres (equivalent to the surface of a mid-size SUV) could produce energy for up to 12,000kms a year under ideal conditions.

Mercedes’ VISION EQXX technology programme forms part of the company’s plans for the future – including photovoltaic paint.

A statement from Mercedes-Benz revealed that the energy generated by the solar cells would be used for driving or sent directly into the high-voltage battery.

The photovoltaic system is permanently active and also generates energy when the vehicle is switched off, meaning that this technology could be a highly effective solution for increased electric range and fewer charging stops.

According to the manufacturer, the solar paint not only has a high level of efficiency, but also contains no rare earth materials or silicon. It uses non-toxic and readily available raw materials.

As a result, it will make the technology easier to recycle. In order to maximise this impact on the company, the research department is currently working on ways for the new solar paint to be installed on all exterior vehicle surfaces – regardless of their shape and angle.

Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement, said: “Innovative strength was and is among the most important driving forces of Mercedes-Benz. 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.”

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What else is planned through the VISION EQXX technology programme?

As a part of the research, Mercedes ‘futurists’ highlighted how the company will fit into three major global cities beyond 2040 – Los Angeles, Shenzhen, and London.

According to Mercedes: “For the British capital, London, the vision for 2040+ foresees a combination of progressiveness with history and tradition. Inner-city neighbourhoods could be redesigned to make them more liveable and sustainable.

“The result would be a mixture of old buildings and new structures with more trees, parks, green roofs and façades as well as shared public spaces. In addition to reduced car traffic, there could be cycle “motorways” and local public transport.

“Centralised parking solutions could function as transport hubs linking cars, bicycles and public transport, while robo-taxis drive through the city. In the vision for London, electric vans and cargo bikes are the predominant solutions for last-mile transport. Almost all vehicles could have an electric or electrified drive.”

New technologies will be introduced by Mercedes in the coming years, including hyper-personalised customer experience of the future through artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR).

The proposed system uses advanced technologies to make interactions between human and machine more intuitive and personalised.

Therefore, the vehicle would be able to recognise moods and needs of the driver, and react accordingly.

Mercedes explained how this would work: “The customer has a coffee first thing in the morning and prepares for work using a mixed-reality headset. This includes looking through diary appointments. On cue, their Mercedes-Benz drives out of the garage autonomously. The interior is already precisely configured according to current requirements such as temperature, radio station or volume. The customer gets in and drives off.

“The MBUX Virtual Assistant suggests a navigation destination based on individual preferences. It leads straight to the office and not to their favourite drive-through coffee shop, as they already had coffee at home. Through a pair of AR glasses, the driver sees the navigation as virtual signposts in the outside world – precisely located at important waypoints and turns.

“If the person at the wheel would rather focus on other activities, they simply switch to autonomous driving mode. The vehicle then makes suggestions for further tasks and experiences according to known individual preferences.”