This is something I have been hoping for for a long time. It seems to be that this can act as a range extender in addition to a green energy source. Even without the Fresnel lens, if you park it in the sun while you are at work, it will provide some charge to get you farther. If, for example, the round trip from home to where you work and back takes 10% more than the battery can hold, this might recharge the battery enough to make the round trip enitely on battery. Of course, this would be much more important on a pure electric car.

That is something I've been expecting for some years... Why not use the whole surface of the car? With additional spreadable panels when the car is parked? The Sun is sending us the energy we (humans on Earth) need for a year, just for 24 hours! Bravo, Ford.

Put me into the "I've been waiting for someone to do this for years too" column. Pretty much given up on anyone from Detroit thinking out-of-the-box on this one, so I am surprised to see it. Also pleasantly surprised to see Ford producing some high mileage cars that look attractive, are well designed with premium features and might possibly be road worthy: C-Max and Fusion for example.
I've read about solar paints in the past and hope that this too could be utilized.
The goal should be to produce high quality transportation devices (automobiles now, ? in the future) priced at the same levels as their ICE counterparts to enable mass consumer adoption of less polluting technologies.

Good idea, but probably only really feasible for sunnier climates.
I can't see it working very well in Britain for example. For one thing, you'd need to park it somewhere where it was not overshadowed by buildings or trees, and reasonably well orientated to the sun to make it work, and then only tolerably well during warmer parts of the year. And how much of the energy accrued by solar radiation would be consumed by having to max out the vehicle air conditioner to rid the interior of excessive heat?

The fact that the solar cells are high efficiency, and the use of the Fresnal lense would increase the temperatures substantially. I would want to see how that much heat would be dissipated or the actual efficient rating of the cells. Now couple this with nano battery paint coating and you have yourself an efficient vehicle with or without sunlight. Proximity sensing and vehicle to vehicle communication would also diminish the need for collision weight constraints. As communication are faster than the eye and brain can coordinate an action (braking/excelleration).

Why fresnel lenses can not be attached and fixed just a few inches above the solar panel? Would not be possible thereby dispense the structure under which the car needs to stay while the battery is charging?

@bergamot69: Finally, a good car to park here:
http://www.gizmag.com/walkie-talkie-skyscraper-melts-jaguar/28917/

Ford company use solar energy very well and use such an awesome concept. Solar energy is the future..

I think your full post is very informative about solar panel and i agree with you.It seems to be that this can act as a range extender in addition to a green energy source. Even without the Fresnel lens, if you park it in the sun while you are at work, it will provide some charge to get you farther.