4th January 2014

Ford unveils a solar-powered hybrid car

Ford Motor Company has announced the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, a first-of-its-kind Sun-powered car with potential to deliver the best of what a plug-in hybrid offers – without depending on the electric grid for fuel.

Instead of powering its battery from an electrical outlet, the C-MAX Solar Energi harnesses power from the Sun by using a special concentrator that acts like a magnifying glass – directing intense rays to panels on the vehicle roof.

The result is a concept vehicle that takes a day’s worth of sunlight to deliver the same performance as the conventional C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which draws its power from the electric grid. Ford C-MAX Energi gets a combined best miles per gallon equivalent in its class, with 108 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway, for a combined average 100 MPGe. By using renewable power, it reduces the annual greenhouse gas emissions a typical owner would produce by four metric tons.

“Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept shines a new light on electric transportation and renewable energy,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure. “As an innovation leader, we want to further the public dialog about the art of the possible in moving the world toward a cleaner future.”

C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which will be shown at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, is a collaborative project of Ford, SunPower Corp and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Strong electrified vehicle sales

The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept debuts as Ford caps a record year of electrified vehicle sales. The company expects to sell 85,000 hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles for 2013 – the first full year its six new electrified vehicles were available in dealer showrooms.

Ford sold more plug-in vehicles in October and November than both Toyota and Tesla, and it outsold Toyota through the first 11 months of 2013. Plug-in hybrids continue to grow in sales as more customers discover the benefits of using electricity to extend their driving range.

Breakthrough clean technology

SunPower, which has been Ford’s solar technology partner since 2011, is providing high-efficiency solar cells for the roof of this concept car. Because of the extended time it takes to absorb enough energy to fully charge, Ford turned to the Georgia Institute of Technology for a way to amplify sunlight, to make a solar-powered hybrid feasible for daily use.

Researchers developed an off-vehicle solar concentrator (pictured below) with a special Fresnel lens to direct sunlight to the solar cells while boosting the impact of sunlight by a factor of eight. A Fresnel is a compact lens originally developed for use in lighthouses. Similar in concept to a magnifying glass, this patent-pending system tracks the Sun as it moves from east to west, drawing enough power each day to equal a four-hour battery charge (8 kilowatts).

With a full charge, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept will achieve the same range as a conventional C-MAX Energi hybrid – up to 620 miles, including 21 electric-only miles. Additionally, the vehicle still has a charge port, and can be charged by connecting to a station via cord and plug, so that drivers retain the option to power up via the grid, if desired. 

After the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is shown at CES, Ford and Georgia Tech will begin testing the vehicle in numerous real-world scenarios. The outcome of those tests will help to determine if the concept is feasible as a production car.  

Off-the-grid car

By tapping renewable solar energy with a rooftop solar panel system, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is not dependent on the traditional electric grid for its battery power. Research by Ford suggests the Sun could power up to 75 percent of all trips made by an average driver in a solar hybrid car. This could be especially important in places where the electric grid is underdeveloped, unreliable or expensive to use.

The vehicle also reinforces MyEnergi Lifestyle, a concept revealed by Ford and several partners at 2013 CES. MyEnergi Lifestyle uses math, science and computer modelling to help homeowners understand how they can take advantage of energy-efficient home appliances, solar power systems and plug-in hybrid vehicles to significantly reduce monthly expenses while also reducing their overall carbon footprint.

The positive environmental impact from Ford C-MAX Solar Energi could be significant. It would reduce yearly CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the average U.S. car owner by as much as four metric tons – the equivalent of what a U.S. house produces in four months.

If all light-duty vehicles in the United States were to adopt Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept technology, annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by approximately 1 billion metric tons.

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