CES 2021: Sono Motors presents solar saddle

In contrast to the Sion, such a semi-trailer offers a lot of surface area for solar panels: This is why the startup from Munich, in collaboration with Finnish solar manufacturer Valoe, developed a photovoltaic trailer based on a Schwarzmüller trailer. The Austrians are known for their ability to build “13.6-meter standard trailers” customized and with low tare weights.

The new trailer supports the vision of Sono Motors: A world without fossil fuels, where sustainable mobility is accessible and affordable for everyone. The photovoltaic trailer showcases another application of Sono's solar technology – here with significantly more energy potential, which could, for example, be used to relieve the cooling machine during refrigerated transport. – Jona Christians, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sono Motors, explains:

“We have found a way to provide sustainable, cost-free energy across various forms of transport by replacing the traditional painting process with integrated solar technology. Since Sono's solar technology is cheaper, lighter, and much more efficient than conventional glass solar cells, I am very excited about the potential usage possibilities that come with the incredible flexibility.”

During the presentation of the solar trailer, Christians made it clear that this technology is being continuously developed. The PV trailer, like the Sion, is still in prototype status.

In a later series version, it is expected to generate up to 80 kWh of energy through the integrated PV cells. When the solar trailer could go into series production and how Sono Motors assesses the given risk of damage to the side-mounted solar panels in the harsh everyday transport environment, Sono Motors has not yet commented on.

What does this mean?

A box trailer offers a lot of space that can wonderfully be used for generating solar power. Hopefully, this idea will go into series production quickly, as the cooling machines on box trailers are currently among the rather "dirty" and simple motors that primarily need to do one thing: run, run, run – and preferably loudly. In this respect, the idea has great potential. If somehow written text could be displayed over the panels and an idea for collision protection or repair including affordability is presented, the solar trailer could make a breakthrough. Please quickly found and further develop Sono Trailers!