Engineering & Design

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Researchers at IDTechEx recently unveiled their report entitled Solar Cars, Buses, Trucks, Trains 2020-2030. The report offers perspective on how a number of transportation technologies are allowing vehicles to produce more energy than they use while in operation.

One example is the Stella Lux solar car in use at the University of Eindhoven. It currently transports four people to work while producing surplus energy that can be donated back to the electrical grid at the end of the day. Long-term plans could see this vehicle connected to an app so electric vehicle owners could plug into the solar car in sharing its excess power.

In New Zealand, a solar boat produces enough extra energy to power three homes. Essentially a floating microgrid or power plant, such a vessel could be used to bring additional power assets to islands that have historically been powered by diesel generators. Solar boats could also have a huge impact on such areas following a natural disaster, like Puerto Rico, for example.

Researchers point to a number of new technologies in products that range from sensors to materials that continue to improve overall energy usage patterns.

Image Credit: Scharfsinn / Shutterstock

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