The Toyota Automobile Museum is home to some truly unique eco-friendly cars from days gone by, all results of groundbreaking research toward carbon neutrality.
Multi-pathway synergies
Masuda also talked about the synergies between solar power and powertrains, such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Masuda
BEVs, FCEVs, and various other powertrains can be equipped with solar panels.
Any electricity the panels generate reduces battery or hydrogen consumption, allowing the car to run with greater energy efficiency.
The multi-pathway approach is about solutions that complement, rather than compete with, each other. As a key piece of that puzzle, solar energy can be used not only to power cars but also to offer peace of mind in emergencies.
Users caught in electricity outages during a natural disaster could use solar-powered vehicles to charge phones or run their home heating systems.
Such energy self-sufficiency is the greatest advantage of solar cars, not only contributing to decarbonization but also helping save lives.
Cars are about the people on board
Although solar cars continue to evolve toward a carbon-neutral future, many obstacles stand in the way of widespread adoption.
Nevertheless, the development goal remains unchanged: getting people behind the wheel.
Masuda
I think the key to increasing solar car adoption is getting customers to recognize them as practical vehicles. In that regard, the Toyota Automobile Museum exhibition is an invaluable opportunity.
Research into solar power generation is booming in non-automotive areas as well, and we expect it to continue drawing greater attention.
We have also seen progress in next-generation technologies, such as perovskite solar cells*1 and CIS solar cells*2 , which could overturn conventional wisdom and rapidly boost energy self-sufficiency through solar power.
*1 Next-generation solar cells made chiefly from iodine. Thinner, lighter, and cheaper than conventional silicon cells, they also boast outstanding flexibility that allows them to be installed anywhere.
*2 Next-generation solar cells made from materials including copper, indium, and selenide. Offer the same advantages as perovskite solar cells.
Masuda lights up as he talks about the future of solar power generation. There may not be long to wait before a new invention stuns the world.
We welcome any development that contributes to a world where solar cars exist as a popular carbon-neutral option alongside BEVs and FCEVs.