Audi, Hanergy Team Up to Develop Solar-Powered Car Roofs, Increase Range of NEVs
Liao Shumin
DATE:  Aug 24 2017
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Audi, Hanergy Team Up to Develop Solar-Powered Car Roofs, Increase Range of NEVs Audi, Hanergy Team Up to Develop Solar-Powered Car Roofs, Increase Range of NEVs

(Yicai Global) Aug. 24 -- Alta Devices Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanergy Thin Film Power Group Ltd. [HKG:0566] has signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate with German carmaker Audi AG [FWB:NSU] to develop the use of thin-film solar cells in vehicles, the Hong Kong-listed company said on Aug. 23.

The pair's first move will be to integrate thin-film cells into panoramic car roofs to help increase the range of electric vehicles and make it easier to power on-board appliances, such as air conditioning. They will look into using thin-film cells to power the vehicle to help Audi achieve zero-emission mobility and increase solar energy's share in global consumption.

The two firms hope to roll out the first prototype with a thin-film powered roof by the end of this year.

"The range of electric cars plays a decisive role for our customers," said Dr. Bernd Martens, Audi board of management member for procurement. "Together with Hanergy, we plan to install innovative solar technology in our electric cars that will extend their range and is also sustainable."

Martens believe if the firm can use solar energy to directly charge a vehicle's traction battery, it would be "a milestone along the way to achieving sustainable, emission-free mobility."

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Keywords:   Hanergy Thin Film Power Group,Audi,Alta Devices,New-Energy Vehicles,Solar-Powered Car