Ford C-Max Solar Energi Concept
Concept Cars with Solar Panels mounted on them is finally coming into the mainstream as the major manufacturer, Ford Motors has announced its plans to display it's C-Max Solar Energi Concept at the CES Las Vegas.
This Concept Car has solar mounted roofs, which was designed with the support of the Georgia Institute of Technology and US based, SunPower Corporation. The roof is fitted in such a manner that it can track the Sun, which helps the car to accumulate power equivalent to 4 hours of battery charge.
The Vehicle uses a special concentrator which acts like a magnifying glass, directing solar rays to panels on its roof. This solar concentrator uses a special Fresnel lens to direct sunlight to the solar cells while boosting the impact of the sunlight by a factor of eight.
With a full charge, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to have
the same total range as a conventional C-MAX Energi of up to 620 miles,
including up to 21 electric-only miles. Additionally, the vehicle still
has a charge port, and can be charged by connecting to a charging
station via cord and plug so that drivers retain the option to power up
via the grid, if desired.
After 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.
