Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept (Foto Ufficiali)

[Pandino]

Quattroruote

Press release:

Let the Sun In: Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept Goes Off the Grid, Gives Glimpse of Clean Vehicle Future

• Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle with the potential to deliver the best of a plug-in hybrid without depending on the electric grid for fuel
  
• C-MAX Solar Energi Concept with a solar panel roof draws power from a special solar concentrator lens similar to a magnifying glass
  
• By using renewable power, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions a typical owner would produce by four metric tons
  
• C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which will be on display at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, Jan. 7-10, debuts as Ford’s strong electrified vehicle lineup is expected to post a record 85,000-plus sales for 2013
  

Ford Motor Company announced today the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, a first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle with the potential to deliver the best of what a plug-in hybrid offers – without depending on the electric grid for fuel.

Instead of powering its battery from an electrical outlet, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept harnesses the power of the sun by using a special concentrator that acts like a magnifying glass, directing intense rays to solar panels on the vehicle roof.

The result is a concept vehicle that takes a day’s worth of sunlight to deliver the same performance as the conventional C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which draws its power from the electric grid. Ford C-MAX Energi gets a combined best miles per gallon equivalent in its class, with EPA-estimated 108 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway, for a combined 100 MPGe. By using renewable power, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions a typical owner would produce by four metric tons.

“Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept shines a new light on electric transportation and renewable energy,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure. “As an innovation leader, we want to further the public dialog about the art of the possible in moving the world toward a cleaner future.”

C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which will be shown at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, is a collaborative project of Ford, San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower Corp. and Atlanta-based Georgia Institute of Technology.

Strong electrified vehicle sales

The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept debuts as Ford caps a record year of electrified vehicle sales.

Ford expects to sell 85,000 hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles for 2013 – the first full year its six new electrified vehicles were available in dealer showrooms.

C-MAX Energi is Ford’s plug-in sales leader, with sales of more than 6,300 through November. Ford sold more plug-in vehicles in October and November than both Toyota and Tesla, and it outsold Toyota through the first 11 months of 2013. Plug-in hybrids continue to grow in sales as more customers discover the benefits of using electricity to extend their driving range.

C-MAX Hybrid over the last year has been a key driver in helping Ford sell more hybrids than any other automaker in the United States, second only to Toyota. C-MAX Hybrid continues to bring new customers to the Ford brand, with a conquest rate of 64 percent and drawing nearly half of its sales from import brands. Conquest rates are even higher in key hybrid growth markets like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Breakthrough clean technology

SunPower, which has been Ford’s solar technology partner since 2011, is providing high-efficiency solar cells for the roof of Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept. Because of the extended time it takes to absorb enough energy to fully charge the vehicle, Ford turned to Georgia Institute of Technology for a way to amplify the sunlight in order to make a solar-powered hybrid feasible for daily use.

Researchers developed an off-vehicle solar concentrator that uses a special Fresnel lens to direct sunlight to the solar cells while boosting the impact of the sunlight by a factor of eight. Fresnel is a compact lens originally developed for use in lighthouses. Similar in concept to a magnifying glass, the patent-pending system tracks the sun as it moves from east to west, drawing enough power from the sun through the concentrator each day to equal a four-hour battery charge (8 kilowatts).

With a full charge, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to have the same total range as a conventional C-MAX Energi of up to 620 miles, including up to 21 electric-only miles. Additionally, the vehicle still has a charge port, and can be charged by connecting to a charging station via cord and plug so that drivers retain the option to power up via the grid, if desired.

After C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is shown at CES, Ford and Georgia Tech will begin testing the vehicle in numerous real-world scenarios. The outcome of those tests will help to determine if the concept is feasible as a production car.

Off-the-grid car

By tapping renewable solar energy with a rooftop solar panel system, C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is not dependent on the traditional electric grid for its battery power. Internal Ford data suggest the sun could power up to 75 percent of all trips made by an average driver in a solar hybrid vehicle. This could be especially important in places where the electric grid is underdeveloped, unreliable or expensive to use.

The vehicle also reinforces MyEnergi Lifestyle, a concept revealed by Ford and several partners at 2013 CES. MyEnergi Lifestyle uses math, science and computer modeling to help homeowners understand how they can take advantage of energy-efficient home appliances, solar power systems and plug-in hybrid vehicles to significantly reduce monthly expenses while also reducing their overall carbon footprint.

The positive environmental impact from Ford C-MAX Solar Energi could be significant. It would reduce yearly CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the average U.S. car owner by as much as four metric tons – the equivalent of what a U.S. house produces in four months.

If all light-duty vehicles in the United States were to adopt Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept technology, annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by approximately 1 billion metric tons.

FORD

Prototipo alimentato a energia solare.

[Regazzoni]

Ah, 8kW (immagino kWh) al giorno di carica tramite i pannelli sul tetto.

Ottimo, hanno già inventato i pannelli solari col 100% di efficienza?

O, ancora meglio, hanno finalmente inventato il moto perpetuo?

Tanto per dare un dato, la radiazione solare massima (ovvero al suolo, a mezzogiorno, a latitudini non lontane dall'equatore e con una superficie perpendicolare la sole) è di circa 1 kW per metro quadro.

Qui ci sono (abbondiamo) 3 di metri quadri di pannelli solari, paralleli al terreno.

Un sistema a concentrazione di ottima qualità non arriva al 35 % di efficienza. Considerando il concentratore sempre esposto perpendicolare al sole.

Quindi abbiamo 1 kW di produzione ottimale col tetto dell'auto rivolto perpendicolare al sole a mezzogiorno. Che in realtà sarà il 10-15% in meno a latitudini tropicali e un buon 30% in meno se ci spostiamo in Europa o in Usa.

Come li ottengono questi fantastici 8kWh al giorno questi maghi del marketing?

Come dia

[Alce_NeroWRC]

Evidentemente scarseggi di un pò di sana fantasia!

[Cosimo]

con quei pannelli forse ci ricaricano le luci di cortesia

cazzo, sembrano quelli che montavi sul camper vent'anni fa

[Sifizzirro]

Sul comunicato dicono che i pannelli, sviluppati in collaborazione con il Georgia Institute of Technology e con una ditta californiana, hanno una lente Fresnel patent pending che segue l'andamento del sole da est a ovest e aumenta l'assorbimento di luce solare di un fattore 8.

Archimede docet (o rules, se preferite)

[AleMcGir]

[Regazzoni]

Sul comunicato dicono che i pannelli, sviluppati in collaborazione con il Georgia Institute of Technology e con una ditta californiana, hanno una lente Fresnel patent pending che segue l'andamento del sole da est a ovest e aumenta l'assorbimento di luce solare di un fattore 8.

Archimede docet (o rules, se preferite)

L

L'aumento di un fattore 8 è pura fantasia. O meglio significa tutt'altro. Non è che aumenta di un fattore 8 l'energia raccolta e convertita in elettricità.

Il fatto che ci sia un ottica che concentra la luce l'ho già tenuto in conto, visto che ho preso un dato estremamente ottimistico di 35% di un sistema a concentrazione: senza il sistema a concentrazione l'efficienza dei sistemi commerciali è ancora più bassa, poco oltre il 20%.

Ma anche col sistema a concentrazione, il tetto rimane inclinato rispetto alla luce incidente del sole e quindi la superficie apparente è minore di quella effettiva del tetto.

Siccome la geometria non è un opinione, significa che devi moltiplicare la superficie dei pannelli per il seno dell'angolo con cui il sole picchia.

Pitagora docet.

[Sifizzirro]

Il fatto che ci sia un ottica che concentra la luce l'ho già tenuto in conto, CUT

Volevo vedere se stavi attento :

[atomicstation2]

"So di non sapere", dotta ignoranza doccet e gabinet.

[Sifizzirro]

Ma noo, non volevo fare il saputo

Avevo letto male il messaggio del Rega, non mi ero accorto che avesse calcolato il rendimento "corretto" lente inclusa!

Vabbè dai, la prossima volta leggo meglio e sto zitto