Urban transportation is key to modern civilization. It has enabled humans to travel long distances and is one of the building blocks of industry and leisure. But it has come at a cost, contributing to a dangerous carbon footprint, high levels of smog, a growing inequality gap, and the destruction of some of our most fragile environments. Indeed, according to Project Drawdown, a nonprofit collaborative established in 2013 to model solutions to reverse global warming, transportation accounts for 14% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. And our appetite is only growing.
Fortunately, there are already many working projects demonstrating the potential to electrify the world’s transportation sectors. Thus, in the first quarter of 2022, pv magazine’s UP Initiative will focus on the rise of e-mobility and how it can complement the renewable energy transition. Specifically, we will examine the role electric vehicles, trains, and two- and three-wheelers can play in greening the electricity grid.
pv magazine 12/2021
Rush hour: Presentation of the quarterly theme.
pv magazine 01/2022
V2G driving grid changes: The uptake of EVs in the years ahead will add up to staggering battery capacity, mostly sitting idle on driveways. The two-way flow of electricity from EV batteries, known as vehicle to grid, could not only enable power systems to rely on intermittent renewables, but could also be the trump card for network operators to respond to grid disturbances. However, there are still a few catches to be worked out, as Marija Maisch explains.
pv magazine 02/2022
Highway to the inflection point: Electric vehicles, both fully electric and plug-in hybrid EVs, look set to become dominant in new car sales within years in many parts of the world, but overall changes to car fleets face significant inertia. What impact will this have on the future grid, and where’s the opportunity for solar? Tristan Rayner gets behind the wheel.
Standards to unlock V2G: Mass adoption of electric vehicles presents opportunities for significant battery deployment to support our grid and power our homes. Developing and adopting standards for vehicle-to-grid bidirectional technology is needed to accelerate the path to these opportunities, reports pv magazine USA’s Tim Sylvia.
Overview of home charging stations in Germany: It is not a leader, but Germany is moving quickly on the adoption of electric vehicles. And with a relatively high uptake of rooftop solar, homeowners are keen to ensure they’re “driving on sunshine” as often as possible. A market survey of EV chargers in Germany provides key insights into what is available today and what is in store as EV uptake continues to accelerate. Michael Fuhs, pv magazine’s head of editorial, reports.
Charging with solar at home: Using the electrons generated on your roof to power your car may be an idea that appeals to many homeowners. However, it is not yet a given among EV chargers available in Germany. And it may not make financial sense, according to the market overview carried out by pv magazine Deutschland.
Rolling solar: The new year opened with the announcement from a prestige brand about an electric vehicle (EV) designed to extend the horizon of zero-emissions transportation – and solar was a part of the vision. Mercedes-Benz announced the launch of its Vision EQXX EV, with the headline figure that it can travel 1,000 km on a single charge of its 100kWh battery.
Staying charged: The integration of solar cells into passenger vehicles appears to be progressing in lockstep with the increasing penetration of electric vehicles, which itself looks to have hit an inflection point. But how does one know whether a solar roof is still in good working order in the testing environment of the open road? German flasher provider Wavelabs is looking closely at the issue, and CEO Torsten Brammer provides some insights into the challenge.
Vehicle integrated, in production: Producing solar products for integration into a range of electric vehicles will be a fundamentally new development and production process, says Robert Händel, the CEO and founder of Opes Solutions. The offgrid and solar mobility producer has developed its first two vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) modules and is preparing for the market opportunity ahead.
pv magazine 03/2022
E+V = better vehicles: Electric vehicle batteries are packed with energy, with additional battery density and efficiency working to quell range anxiety for drivers. But with that capability lingers a concern from some that EVs may pose a fire risk and a challenge for first responders in the event of accidents. Professor Ray Wills from Future Smart Strategies bought his first EV in 2012 and argues that in terms of safety, EVs remain an easily superior vehicle, and even the tiny fire risk that exists is an ever-diminishing issue.
Bringing space solar back to earth: The integration of solar into the rooftops of electric vehicles is an opportunity for PV, but it could also drive the development of very high-efficiency semiconductors, says Rupert Kogler, from development glazing, roof, and components at Webasto, a top 100 automotive supplier.
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This page was last updated on March 11, 2022.