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Will EVs Soon Be Charged Through Their Windows?

hybridcars.com -- New Energy Technologies, Inc., a developer of see-through solar cells for generating electricity on glass, announced yesterday an improvement in its manufacturing technique that should lead to higher speed, lower costs and greater durability.

Teaming with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), New Energy Technologies Inc. has developed the use of low-cost materials and a special application technique that could help optimize the movement of electrons within the ultra-thin solar cells. This should increase the amount of electricity produced when New Energy’s see-through SolarWindow prototype is exposed to natural or artificial light.

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Submitted Jun 21, 2012 By: dave27johnson

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NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,614 Points:1,142,245 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:18:34 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse No, EVs.
msienkiewicz Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,462 Points:1,596,550 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:52:16 PM Ignore msienkiewicz Report Abuse Yeah, Tacodan - a new style of "sunroof"!
Tacodan Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,314 Points:653,360 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 6:45:49 PM Ignore Tacodan Report Abuse I'll wait for the solar rooftop model !
SUV2009 Champion Author Orlando Posts:4,413 Points:1,143,215 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 4:40:46 PM Ignore SUV2009 Report Abuse ok
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,001 Points:1,741,835 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 1:00:41 PM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse long way off bro'..... soon??? cost verse gains verses implied improvement verses actual cost (repeat)
CPayZombie Champion Author Phoenix Posts:10,069 Points:1,655,615 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:42:10 AM Ignore CPayZombie Report Abuse We have plenty of sunshine for this in Arizona.
KhelbenArunson Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,441 Points:717,640 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:39:18 AM Ignore KhelbenArunson Report Abuse Awesome.
egd Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,088 Points:2,118,300 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:34:56 AM Ignore egd Report Abuse good idea, good luck
Ken2OD Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:9,067 Points:1,970,965 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:31:56 AM Ignore Ken2OD Report Abuse Such a deal! Rechargeable windshields!
357revo Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:18,123 Points:2,384,605 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:30:44 AM Ignore 357revo Report Abuse It makes no sense whatsoever to charge using artificial light, because the electricity needed to produce the light can never be fully recovered by a solar cell array. Therefore, it is more efficient, faster, and cheaper to charge the batteries by putting electricity directly into the storage batteries.
357revo Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:18,123 Points:2,384,605 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:25:53 AM Ignore 357revo Report Abuse Normally, EVs are charged in a garage, in order to be close to a secure source of electricity. Normally, EVs are housed in a garage, to protect them from outside hot and cold weather that would make riding in the EV uncomfortable. Now, we are to assume the the EV will be parked in a place exposed to the sun, in order to provide some measure of electrical charge. This does not seem to be a very secure mode of operation, especially if the driver is expecting to have a fully charged vehicle to ride in based on that charging.
IrishCowboy Champion Author Fort Wayne Posts:1,431 Points:572,380 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:24:16 AM Ignore IrishCowboy Report Abuse Hmmm, wouldn't want a window to get broken, then.
BudsterMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:3,710 Points:703,930 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:12:05 AM Ignore BudsterMO Report Abuse O paalleeeese, more coming soon, coming soon. Where are the announcements of all the developments that have been in the pipeline for decades arriving on the showroom floor (or anywhere)? We want things that are commercially available NOW. Coming soon never arrives.
yeehaw1073 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,356 Points:1,849,450 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:04:50 AM Ignore yeehaw1073 Report Abuse That would be pretty cool!
VernonOR Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,915 Points:737,870 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:03:10 AM Ignore VernonOR Report Abuse Technology is good. Alternative energy is the way to go.
HATinMUNDY Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,682 Points:763,895 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:02:46 AM Ignore HATinMUNDY Report Abuse Like all other ideas, I will take the wait and see approach...
Don20 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:9,672 Points:2,619,630 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:58:06 AM Ignore Don20 Report Abuse I think the future for electric vehicles, other than delivery in city driving they will be an antique on any expressway...
DimitrisIL Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,503 Points:523,740 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:57:00 AM Ignore DimitrisIL Report Abuse Would love to see my electric car charging while parked in the sun.
CatMan623 Champion Author Houston Posts:16,371 Points:2,344,770 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:55:02 AM Ignore CatMan623 Report Abuse Keep working the technology.
Hypersonic All-Star Author Maryland Posts:962 Points:850,290 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:54:52 AM Ignore Hypersonic Report Abuse awesome
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,532 Points:2,836,290 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:54:39 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse "Give them a few $billion out of Obozo's stash!" Might have to go to Romney. He's got more "stash" than Obama.
WebGabe Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,369 Points:496,620 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:53:41 AM Ignore WebGabe Report Abuse Interesting.
bigLtowing Champion Author Columbus Posts:2,839 Points:592,565 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:51:52 AM Ignore bigLtowing Report Abuse cool
BrucePen Champion Author Ontario Posts:6,601 Points:1,361,840 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:50:24 AM Ignore BrucePen Report Abuse Sounds promising. Every window could be a solar panel. Interesting.
arnerator Champion Author Seattle Posts:8,184 Points:1,617,390 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:49:36 AM Ignore arnerator Report Abuse EVs will be on their way out if they can't significantly increase their mileage.
svspyda Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,668 Points:338,985 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:49:16 AM Ignore svspyda Report Abuse maybe
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,112 Points:653,855 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:47:43 AM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse This sounds like a maybe in ten years or so....
mattymattmatt All-Star Author Scranton Posts:889 Points:364,340 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:47:01 AM Ignore mattymattmatt Report Abuse ok.
LuckyD43 Champion Author Long Island Posts:31,996 Points:2,167,945 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:47:00 AM Ignore LuckyD43 Report Abuse This sounds very promising. In fact, it may just be the solution to the EV's shortcomings. I just hope it's produced sometime in the immediate future and that it doesn't make the price of such a vehicle beyond the reach of the average driver. Hell, if it's affordable, I may even buy one myself.
slgas Champion Author Houston Posts:6,030 Points:1,561,790 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:46:37 AM Ignore slgas Report Abuse Eventually I bet we will see substantial gathering of solar energy from the many suitable car surfaces that exist.
us412 Champion Author Arkansas Posts:22,816 Points:2,416,255 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:45:10 AM Ignore us412 Report Abuse Give them a few $billion out of Obozo's stash!
petrpuck All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:559 Points:418,560 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:44:20 AM Ignore petrpuck Report Abuse hope it doesn't hurt
V8power Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,816 Points:1,379,995 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:44:20 AM Ignore V8power Report Abuse More subsidies coming.
grammamNV Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,335 Points:372,425 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:43:54 AM Ignore grammamNV Report Abuse wow - interesting
n8911 Veteran Author Indiana Posts:262 Points:309,120 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:42:31 AM Ignore n8911 Report Abuse wonder if it will really ever hit the market?
mrchief All-Star Author Massachusetts Posts:567 Points:851,845 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:41:37 AM Ignore mrchief Report Abuse huh?
CAroadrunner101 Champion Author California Posts:1,827 Points:1,316,175 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:40:34 AM Ignore CAroadrunner101 Report Abuse cool...if it works...
JBL2 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:2,551 Points:1,065,905 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:39:16 AM Ignore JBL2 Report Abuse Make it cheap!
Paw5X Champion Author Gary Posts:9,903 Points:2,267,530 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:38:59 AM Ignore Paw5X Report Abuse Who knows??
liao Champion Author Montreal Posts:3,447 Points:1,427,785 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:38:36 AM Ignore liao Report Abuse Hope this can come true one day.
AuntJaime Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,869 Points:401,310 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:37:58 AM Ignore AuntJaime Report Abuse Awesome!
Lologogo Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,309 Points:355,415 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:37:33 AM Ignore Lologogo Report Abuse great idea & when combined with tradional solar cells & inceased battery efficiency, we would have a true vehicle worth buying
bginsj Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,868 Points:1,234,635 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:37:23 AM Ignore bginsj Report Abuse it may be the beginning of the end for oil granted it will take a long time but have to start somewhere
geezrtek Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,907 Points:431,735 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:36:48 AM Ignore geezrtek Report Abuse Misleading headline. "it is not far fetched to imagine this technology used on a car’s sunroof or side windows to help keep the batteries topped up." Yeah, topped up as in charging from 97% to 99% full charge. Even if these transparent cells are two or three TIMES more efficient than todays normal cells they won't make a significant contribution to charging the batteries.
kruisr Rookie Author Ontario Posts:94 Points:1,071,860 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:36:08 AM Ignore kruisr Report Abuse If truly this good, eventually all cars will have full glass (transparent) roofs to take advantage of this.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,488 Points:733,325 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:36:03 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse Good idea.
ZeroBoxes Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,074 Points:212,365 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:35:42 AM Ignore ZeroBoxes Report Abuse Gosh! a NASA spin-off technology!
DASGOLf Rookie Author Lansing Posts:43 Points:4,785 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:35:34 AM Ignore DASGOLf Report Abuse They need to get this stuff to the public soon.
slvrdo_dsprdo Champion Author Nashville Posts:4,699 Points:913,015 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:34:52 AM Ignore slvrdo_dsprdo Report Abuse Through the windows? Why not put that stuff all over the car, with traditional PV cells on the roof and/or on the hood? Even if it's solar-charged, and even if that's sufficient, I would still want to be able to plug it in, because otherwise I'd have to park it outside, and I would rather park it in the garage. Plus, you'd need to be able to plug it in on cloudy days.
Zygnatz Champion Author British Columbia Posts:12,743 Points:2,517,260 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 10:34:36 AM Ignore Zygnatz Report Abuse While not enough to fully operate the vehicle a solar panel would offer some range extension. Maybe useful for short drives and when parked, charge up the batteries.