Page 53 - ETP-April-May2020

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Over the top innovation

Two companies have signed an agreement to jointly scale the commercialization
of a unique solar-powered roof for the electric vehicle market.

ightyear and Royal DSM
have signed an agreement to “THE COMPANIES
jointly scale the commercial- ARE TEAMING UP TO
Lization of Lightyear’s unique ASSESS THE MARKET,
solar-powered roof for the electric STARTING WITH
vehicle market. With this solution, PILOT PROJECTS
both companies aim to accelerate the FOR CUSTOMERS
global adoption of a broad range of FROM THE
Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Specifically, the partnership aims AUTOMOTIVE AND
to integrate solar-powered roofs in a | DSM and Lightyear join forces to scale the PUBLIC TRANSPORT
variety of electric vehicles, including commercialization of integrated solar roofs for SECTOR, WHERE THE
cars, vans and buses - thus enabling the electric vehicle market. Photo: Lightyear INTEGRATION OF A
users to charge their vehicle directly SOLAR ROOF COULD
with clean energy. The companies One. Lightyear One is set to be the REPRESENT A SMART
are teaming up to assess the mar- world’s most efficient long-range solar INVESTMENT.”
ket, starting with pilot projects for car when it launches in 2021 – with
customers from the automotive and a WLTP range of 725km. Featuring
public transport sector, where the five square meters of integrated solar cal (cell-to-module) losses not only
integration of a solar roof could rep- cells protected by double-curved and delivers a three percent increase in
resent a smart investment. super-strong safety glass, the solar power output; it has the added ad-
Today, the global EV market has roof captures sunlight continually vantage of contributing to a more
enormous growth potential. It was whether the car is moving or station- stylish sunroof with aesthetic appeal.
valued at $160-plus billion in 2019; ary. The result is that in optimized Pascal de Sain, Vice President
and is projected to reach $800-plus vehicles like Lightyear One, the solar DSM Advanced Solar: “By step-
billion by 2027 according to inter- roof can deliver enough energy to ping up our collaboration with
national market assessments from cover an average of 70 percent to 90 Lightyear we are creating an entirely
Bloomberg, IDTechEx and TIME. percent of the yearly mileage. new market for ‘lossless’ high power
To accelerate this growth, the EV DSM’s Conductive backsheet is back-contact technology - with the
industry now needs to overcome the an integral element of the solar roof potential to change the face of clean
twin hurdles of limited range and - enabling all the connections of the mobility and make a big impact on
grid-dependency. solar cells to be put on the back of climate change. We look forward
The alliance between Lightyear the solar panel - thus making every to bringing more than a decade of
and DSM addresses this need by available centimeter on the front of market and scientific leadership in
enabling various EVs to increase the module available for capturing solar to this collaboration. Our goal
their range through energy harvested sunlight. The reduction in electri- is simple; to make clean, solar energy
directly from the sun. The a reality for all.”
integration of a solar roof is Martijn Lammers,
expected to be a good invest- Lightyear’s Chief of Strategy
ment in multiple EV market and Co-Founder: “We want
segments. to revolutionise the way that The Economic Times POLYMERS | April-May 2020
people travel. By scaling up
Technology devel- the accessibility of our solar
oped for Lightyear technology through our part-
One nership with DSM, we can
This technology was initially accelerate the mass adoption
developed by Lightyear for | Left: Martijn Lammers - Chief Strategy Officer Lightyear, and Right: Pascal of electric vehicles by making
the solar panels of Lightyear de Sain - Vice President DSM Advanced Solar. Photo: Lightyear. them sun-powered.”

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