This solar paint tech could lead to nearly unlimited EV range
We’ve seen a few key improvements in both paint and electric vehicles over the past year. And while those two industries might not seem all that connected beyond EVs having paint on them, Mercedes looks to be making that connection a lot deeper with a new solar paint that could reportedly remove all range anxiety from owning an electric vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz revealed the new paint back in November, claiming that it could power an EV for up to 7,456 miles per year in optimal lighting conditions. Of course, what those optimal lighting conditions are isn’t exactly clear. However, based on how other solar technologies work, it would probably require a good deal of sunlight to create that much electricity.
The new solar paint is what we call photovoltaic paint. It’s essentially a “nanoparticle” paint that can be applied to the body of the EV. It soaks up solar energy and can transfer it into the vehicle’s battery for storage, providing less reliance on external charging.