Solar Powered

​Hyundai is launching its first car with a solar rooftop as part of the vehicle's charging system. The solar panels in the new Sonata Hybrid's roof are expected to provide up to 60 percent of the car's battery charging per day and provide over 1,000 km of EV range per year.

For those seeking a luxurious, spacious self-sufficient home with forever changing scenery, Silent Yachts will debut a vastly improved, solar-powered, 55-ft ocean-going catamaran in September. The new $1.58 million Silent 55 will cruise all day at 12 knots with miniscule running costs.

Steven Holl Architects and Architecture Acts, in association with Nagata Acoustics, have been selected to design a new concert hall in Czech Republic. The building's unusual form is described as an "instrument in its case" and will sport an eye-catching zinc roof that has solar panels installed.

A couple of years ago we heard about the MOlecular Solar Thermal (MOST) system, in which solar energy is stored in a liquid medium, then later released as heat. Now, the technology has been applied to a clear film that could be applied to the inside of windows in energy-efficient buildings.

​Toyota has fitted out an experimental Prius with a fresh rooftop solar kit to explore the limits of sun-powered road travel. The new array will be capable of charging the vehicle while it is on the move, a feature hoped to give range and efficiency a significant boost. ​

​We've been following the exploits of Harvard's tiny Robobee for a few years now. Until recently, it's been powered via a wire tether, but researchers have cut the cord by installing teeny solar panels on the little robotic insect.​

The International Olympic Committee recently received a new headquarters in Switzerland, courtesy of 3XN. Featuring an eye-catching glazed facade, the building boasts significant sustainable design, including rainwater collection, solar panels, and the use of recycled materials.

​Details were scant when Lightyear first revealed plans for a solar-powered EV back in 2017, apart from a claimed 800 km range per charge. Last night the company took the wraps of the pre-production prototype, with 725 km of WLTP range, a high price tag and plans to deliver the vehicle in 2021.​

A Spanish start-up called Proton New Energy Future has unveiled Ebörd, a smart table that has a wireless charger built into the entire surface, allowing it to charge multiple devices at once. Better yet, it harvests energy from the Sun or even artificial light.

The GoSun Chill is a portable cooler that, instead of needing to be loaded up with ice, draws on a 144-Wh detachable powerbank for refrigeration (or topping up your mobile devices). GoSun also provides a number of solar panel options for completely off-grid cooling capabilities.

The marketplace is pretty well served when it comes to clever hydration systems. But Hydrade, the newest player in the space, steps things up a notch offering solar power; a nifty sensor that knows if you're drinking from it or pouring it out and a sip-for-sip partnership with a major water charity.

Dubbed Naturecruiser and Waterloft, these innovative motorized floating homes by Dutch firm +31Architects are designed as fully equipped houseboats, but with the added benefit of being able to cruise the surrounding lakes or rivers.​