NL2021173B1 - Electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a solar panel. - Google Patents

Abstract

[0001] The invention relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a solar panel, characterized in that the solar panel is a movable or detachable solar panel that, when 5 the car is in a first state, covers at least part of a window, and, when the car is in a second state, leaves the window transparent. [0002] By having the solar panel movable or detachable, the window can in one state (for example when driving the car) be transparent, allowing the driver to observe the road and the passengers to observe the surroundings of the car, while in another state (for 10 example when parked) the solar panel can cover the window, thereby increasing the amount of solar panel surface to be used for converting sunlight to electric power. As a beneficial side effect the second state allows passengers of the car more privacy when needed. Another beneficial side effect is that it will also lower the temperature of the interior of the car.

Description

Technical field of the invention.

[0001] The invention relates to an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a solar panel.

Background of the invention.

[0002] Vehicles (cars) that use electric motors are also known as electric cars, using power from an electric motor only, or hybrid cars, using power from a combination of an electric motor and a combustion motor. In both cases such a car needs a battery for powering the electric motor. The battery is typically charged by a charger connected to mains.

[0003] Recently also cars have been demonstrated that are completely or in part charged by solar cells, arranged in a solar panel.

It is noted that in this context the phrase “solar panel” is used to described one or more solar cells operating together. The solar panel can be foldable, or it can be rigid, or flexible.

An example of such cars are the participants of the World Solar Challenge, since 2013 known as the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, covering 3,022 km through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide. The cars participating in this race are bound to the racing rules, among others also describing the square footage allowed for the solar panels used for charging.

[0004] For a commercially available car equipped with solar panels to, at least partly, charge the battery, it is an obvious strategy to cover the car with as much solar panel surface as possible. Needless to say that the solar panels should not interfere with driver safety and passenger well-being, so at least the windscreen and the side windows should be kept free from solar panels, leaving them transparent.

[0005] There is thus a need to maximize the square footage of solar panels on a car for charging the battery without obstructing driver safety and passenger well-being.

[0006] The invention intends to provide a solution to that problem.

Summary of the invention.

[0007] To that end the invention is characterized in that the solar panel is a movable or detachable solar panel that, when the car is in a first state, covers at least part of a window, and, when the car is in a second state, leaves the window transparent.

[0008] By having the solar panel movable or detachable, the window can in one state (or mode) be transparent, allowing the driver to observe the road and the passengers to observe the surroundings of the car. In another state (or mode) the solar panel can cover the window, thereby increasing the amount of solar panel surface to be used for converting sunlight to electric power.

As a beneficial side effect the second mode also allows passengers of the car more privacy when needed.

Another beneficial side effect is that it will also lower the temperature of the interior of the car.

[0009] It is noted that the phrase “movable” includes “retractable”, and that the phrase “detachable” includes “removable”.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention the second state comprises the state in which the car is participating in traffic.

[0011] This describes the situation where the driver needs to be able to observe the road. Should the vehicle be an automated vehicle, where a driver is not needed anymore, it might still be attractive for the passengers to observe the surroundings of the car.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention the first state occurs when the car is parked.

[0013] This describes the situation where solar panels at least partly cover the window when the car is parked.

[0014] It is noted that not during the whole parking time the solar panels need to cover the window. Parking time starts when the passengers are still in the car, and the solar panel need to be removed before bringing the car in traffic, so thereby the time is necessarily shorter than the parking time. It may even occur that the solar panel does not cover the window during a complete parking period, for example because it is dark and placing the solar panel over the window is useless.

[0015] In yet another embodiment of the invention the solar panel is a flexible solar panel. [0016] Although rigid solar panels can be used, they are often rigid and brittle. This implies that moving or detaching such a panel can easily result in breakage, or in general damage to the solar panel. In those cases where the shape of the solar panel must be changed when removing them, a flexible panel is therefore preferred.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the solar panel is a movable solar panel, the moving is a motorized moving and the moving is controlled by a programmable controller in the vehicle.

[0018] A motorized movable panel is from a user point of view preferred as no attention need to be paid to the action of going from one state to the other. Also, from a manufacturers’ point of view it is preferred: although the mechanism may be complex, the operation of a well-designed mechanism can be more reliable and/or less damaging than manual control. The motorized moving may comprise e.g. folding (when using a solar panel made up of one or more rigid parts), rolling (when using a flexible solar panel), and/or shifting (for example ‘parking’ the solar panel on the bonnet of the car).

[0019] In an alternative embodiment of the invention the solar panel is a detachable solar panel, and the detaching is a manual detaching.

[0020] As an alternative the solar panel is a detachable panel that is attached or removed by hand. This results in a cheap construction and allows, for example, to leave the solar panels ‘at home’, thereby decreasing weight of the car and increasing space in the car. The attaching/detaching involves making/breaking electric connections, and may be supplemented by the use of a magnetic latch, press-studs, etc..

[0021] In an embodiment of the invention the vehicle comprises one or more stationary solar panels.

[0022] To maximize the square footage of solar panels, parts of the car, such as the roof, the bonnet and the boot lid should be covered with solar panels.

[0023] In another embodiment of the invention the window is the windscreen of the car. [0024] Depending on the design of the car, the windscreen can on average intercept 20% or more of all sunlight falling on a car. As a car is parked most of the time, an increase of 20% during the park time represents a huge increase of electric energy available for charging the battery of the car. The invention is thus especially beneficial when using the windscreen as the window to be covered by solar panels when parked.

[0025] It is noted that, beside the windscreen, also other windows can be used for the invention. If the invention is used for improving privacy for the passengers, this may even be necessary.

[0026] It is further noted that, when the car is fully autonomous, the covering of windows with solar panels is not restricting passenger security, and the first state may be used while driving. Passengers can then enjoy improved privacy, or they may take a nap in the dark while the car is driving in sunlight. Other possibilities include, for example, watching a movie with reduce interior light level in the car, using only artificial lighting.

Brief description of the figures.

[0027] The invention is now elucidated using figures, in which identical reference signs indicate corresponding features. To that end:

Figure 1 schematically shows a side-view of a car equipped with solar panels.

Detailed description of the invention.

[0028] Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle (or car) 100 equipped with solar panels 102 and 104. The car does not have a rear window, so the boot lid and the roof of the car are covered by one (stationary) solar panel 102. The car has a second stationary solar panel 104 covering the bonnet of the car. The windscreen is in this view not covered by a solar panel. However, according to the invention, when the car is parked, the windscreen may be covered by a movable (retractable) or detachable (removable) solar panel. When moved to a position where it does not cover the windscreen, the movable or detachable solar panel may be placed on the roof, under the bonnet, or elsewhere.

[0029] It is noted that movable or retractable solar screens can also be mounted in or on the side windows 108 and 110.

[0030] To determine if the car is parked it is easiest to determine if the ‘key’ is in or near the car, if the car is in the ‘parked’ position for a certain amount of time, if passengers are in or near the car, etc.. If the car, after being turned off, is activated again, the movable solar screen should be removed from the windscreen or any other window, such as a side window.

[0031] If a (manually) detachable solar screen is used, a connection to the battery must be made. It is suggested that this connection is made such, that it also detects if the screen is on the windscreen.

[0032] Due to the transparent nature of the windscreen, the solar panel can be mounted on the outside of the windscreen, but also on the inside of the windscreen, limiting the chance of molest and of damage through ice, slate, etc. The same reasoning holds when the solar panel is mounted in or on a window, such as a side window.

Claims (8)

Conclusions. An electric or hybrid vehicle (100) comprising a solar panel, characterized in that the solar panel is a movable or removable solar panel which, when the vehicle is in a first condition, covers at least a part of a window, and when the vehicle is in a second state, leaves the window free. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the second state comprises the state where the vehicle participates in traffic. The vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first state occurs when the vehicle is parked. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solar panel is a flexible solar panel. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the solar panel is a movable solar panel, wherein the movement is a motorized movement that is controlled by a programmable controller in the vehicle. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the solar panel is a removable solar panel, and the removal takes place manually. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle also has one or more stationary solar cells (102, 104). The vehicle of any one of the preceding claims wherein the window is the windshield (106).