V-Tent Solar Car Cover Charges Your Electric Car (w/ video)

Industrial designer Hakan Gürsu calls this creation a V-Tent – it’s a collapsible, solar car cover that shields parked cars from wind and weather while converting the sun’s light into electricity that can to charge any EVs that happen to find their way underneath the V-Tent, and power any nearby street lights to make the chargers more visible at night.

With the V-Tent, Hakan hopes to extend the life of EVs and build up the electric charging infrastructure, as well as re-imagine urban parking meters. Drivers would pay with a credit card (current practice in cities like Chicago and Miami Beach) and the charging cycle would begin as soon as the V-Tent cover unwrapped itself. Drivers would be able check the status of the charge through a smartphone app, because this is 2013 and everything needs an app and a QR code, you know?

You can check out the V-Tent in (computer-animated) action, below. After you take a look at the thing, let us know if you’d trust your EV under one of these solar car covers!

Source: Wired Autopia.

MAKE SOLAR WORK FOR YOU!

Next, use your Solar Report to get the best quote!

Tags: car cover, charger, Charging, electric, grid, Infrastructure, parking, Protect, protection, solar, solar car cover, Solar power, urban

About the Author

Jo Borrás I've been involved in motorsports and tuning since 1997, and write for a number of blogs in the Important Media network. You can find me on Twitter, Skype (jo.borras) or Google+.

http://MrEnergyCzar.com/ MrEnergyCzar

I don’t think you’d get enough consistent power from panels that size unless it’s also using grid power…

MrEnergyCzar
Bob_Wallace

Any chance Gürsu has invented panels that make electricity when they aren’t aimed at the Sun?

If so, his tent might work….
Sean

It seems kind of wasteful to have these panels folded up when nobody is parked under them. Why not have them generate power all day? If you’ve got ‘em, use ‘em…
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Right, Sean. There are so many things wrong with this idea. It should have never used up web space.
  
  Put the panels on an overhead structure. Aim them correctly toward the Sun. Tie them to the grid. Let the panels perform optimally.
  
  Mount them on something rigid. They will last longer. There will be no motors, etc. to fail.
  
  Pull into a parking space and plug in if you need to. Even use a wireless charging system and just park.
  
  A few people will need daytime charging because they have extra long commutes. Most won’t.
  
  Install lots of outlets where people park at night. Let people charge at night when wind is generally producing at high levels. Use solar to meet daytime peak demands. That will let us minimize our storage needs and keep the price of electricity low.
Pingback: Check It, Check It Good: Your Daily Wrap-Up | GreenJoyment()
Pingback: Solar Panel Car Cover For Your Electric Car? - Cleantech Reporter()
Pingback: Solar Panel Car Cover For Your Electric Car? - CleanTechnica()
Pingback: San Diego Loves Green – Solar panel Cover for Electric Car (video)()