Eco Factor: Solar-powered carport to recharge EV batteries while they’re parked.
We recently showcased ingenious photovoltaic arrays developed by Envision Solar, which could convert parking lots into solar recharging points for electric vehicles. Today we have another similar development by Romag, which is not as large as Envision Solar’s parking lots but has more practical sense. PowerPark, as the company calls their carport, is a photovoltaic roof that harnesses solar energy and uses it to recharge electric vehicles parked underneath.
The company claims that each canopy is rated at 1.5KWp, and can generate a whopping 1100KWh per year, which could recharge a huge number of cars with green energy. The carports continue to generate electricity all through the day and if no car is using up the energy, the generated electricity is sold to the grid for illuminating nearby buildings to ensure that no energy is wasted.
The Dark Side:
The carport has more practical sense than Envision Solar’s photovoltaic modules. However, considering the cost solar energy comes for, charging your car here could mean spending more than how much you spend recharging it back home.
Via: Wired
