Every electric car needs a SHELF
For many people using solar energy to recharge electric cars is the ultimate in clean energy and clean emissions. A few hybrid car and electric car designs incorporate solar roofs but those roofs have limited space for collecting solar energy. Enter the SHELF that has an extendable solar panel that covers most of the car length.
The SHELF is a concept that was submitted as a Green Life entry at Design Boom. It is actually a rear spoiler or wing, that houses a folded solar panel. That solar panel can be electronically unfolded to cover the car from the spoiler to the hood. The solar panel not only allows recharging of some of the cars electric systems but also blocks sunlight from the front and rear keeping the air cooler on the inside. Even though one of the systems that the SHELF is supposed to energize is the air conditioner, less power is needed because of the shielding.
Other hybrid and electric cars have incorporated solar cells in their roofs to recharge limited systems similar to the SHELF. However those solar panels don’t have the surface area nor the solar shielding of the SHELF. The spoiler could be added to any car presumably through a manufacturer. Unlike other solar roof concepts, the SHELF would only be used when parked. Built in solar roofs can continuously collect power even when the car is in motion. A four hour trip on a sunny day would still provide solar energy in say in the 2010 Prius with a solar roof as opposed to the folded SHELF.
Since this is currently in the design phase, it won’t be available anytime soon. However, car manufacturers may decide that they like the idea and may incorporate the SHELF in future automobiles to provide renewable energy for electrical systems. Only time will tell if the SHELF is a viable commercial concept or not.
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