Audi E-Tron electric SUV plugs into some sunshine with solar program

2019 Audi E-tronAudi is offering 3,000 of its E-Tron electric SUV buyers a complimentary 10-year subscription to solar power. Under a deal with the clean-energy provider Acadia announced yesterday, owners will save some money and help with solar adoption. Audi anticipates the amount saved to be one full E-Tron charge each month per household—offsetting the...

Sono Motors looks for startup shortcuts to bring solar car to market

Sono Sion solar charged electric carSolar powered cars generally face one glaring, gamestopping hurdle: Today’s solar cells don’t produce enough power to drive a standard-sized car any distance. That would take more solar cells than there is space on top of a car. Don’t tell that to Sono Motors, though. The Munich, Germany-based company, plans to bring a car...

Lightyear One solar electric car aims to “leapfrog the grid”

Lightyear OneThe Lightyear One started with a World Solar Challenge champion-team effort, and the project has from the start been focused around uncompromised efficiency and a design that flaunts its solar cells and sleek aerodynamics—as well as the idea of not being so dependent on charging infrastructure. And now the company appears to be forming its...

Walmart lawsuit takes aim at Tesla solar panels

Solar panels on a Walmart storeWalmart sued Tesla on Tuesday, alleging that solar panels that Tesla installed on seven Walmart stores caught fire. The lawsuit accuses Tesla of breach of contract, negligence, and failing to live up to industry standards, according to the court filing. Walmart alleges that the fires resulted in evacuations, and damage to property and inventory...

Walmart lawsuit takes aim at Tesla solar panels (Updated)

Solar panels on a Walmart storeWalmart sued Tesla on Tuesday, alleging that solar panels that Tesla installed on seven Walmart stores caught fire. The lawsuit accuses Tesla of breach of contract, negligence, and failing to live up to industry standards, according to the court filing. Walmart alleges that the fires resulted in evacuations, and damage to property and inventory...

Would solar cells add value to your EV? Twitter poll results

Lightyear OneLast week, after a spate of introductions of concept electric cars with solar cells, we asked our readers if such a system would add value for them. Despite a lot of reservations and skepticism, a clear majority of readers said it would. Our poll was inspired by a new concept Prius PHV (Prius Prime in the U.S.) that Toyota says can get up to 27.6...

Toyota covers Prius Prime with solar panels to test mileage

Toyota Prius Prime PHV test vehicle with solar panels in JapanWhile Toyota has been skeptical of electric cars, the carmaker is expressing optimism about technology that can supplement plugging in: solar. Along with its battery partners NIDO and Sharp, Toyota is experimenting with a new Prius Prime in Japan (called the Prius PHV there), equipped with 860 watts of solar panels on the roof, hood, and rear...

Lightyear aims to build solar-team expertise into an electric car

Lightyear OneIf the future is electric, the latest electric-car startup company looks more like the future than most. Dutch startup company Lightyear is developing a futuristic-looking sedan with sleek aerodynamics, wheel-hub motors, and 53 square feet of solar panels on the roof and hood. That could amount to about 795 watts of solar power—about...

Tesla’s share of the home-solar market continues to slide

Tesla Solar RoofIf you’ve seen the light with electric cars, chances are you’re at least curious about home solar. Solar can help contribute to vehicle charging, and it can help reduce the load from the electrical grid during peak charging times. And as part of energy management systems, electric cars themselves (their traction batteries) could...