Sono Motors: Major Car Manufacturer to Test Solar Panels

After ceasing the development of its own solar-electric vehicle Sion, Munich-based start-up Sono Motors has recorded another order for the delivery of its mobile solar technology to an automobile manufacturer. The order from one of the ten largest OEMs in the world includes the delivery of solar body panels for a specific vehicle. The manufacturer wants to explore the integration of solar technology into its vehicles. As early as December last year, the company had announced the order from a first passenger car manufacturer. This brings the total number of customers and partners for the company's solar technology to 25 – a significant increase compared to ten partners at the time of the IPO 15 months ago, advertises the struggling Munich company.

The solution for mobile solar charging includes power electronics for high-voltage applications in the automobile sector, trucks, and passenger cars. The company also specializes in a manufacturing process that allows solar cells to be seamlessly integrated into plastics used for car bodies. The solar charging enables vehicle owners to gain new advantages through reduced dependency on charging infrastructures and lower operating costs compared to conventional battery-powered vehicles, the Munich-based company advertises. Automobile manufacturers and fleet operators can use the technology in their own products to retrofit existing vehicles or build new production vehicles. This could increase the range of electric vehicles or meet emission regulations.

“We see an entire industry moving towards solar integration in vehicles. We believe that with our patented polymer-based solar technology for passenger cars, we are at the forefront,” explains Laurin Hahn, co-founder and CEO of Sono Motors.