Transparent solar panels for car windscreens

A see-through and flexible solar panel unveiled this week by 3M could allow motorists to generate power by applying it to their car windscreens and windows.

Although the solar film generates only one fifth of the electricity produced by a conventional silicon solar panel, when applied to the windows of a family car it will produce enough energy to trickle charge the battery, charge phones and help run auxiliary systems such as the air conditioning.

The 3M solar film is made from an organic photovoltaic material printed onto sheets that can be bought off the shelf and installed by the user. It is expected that the film will cost half as much as a conventional solar panel and the price will come down further as production increases.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The primary application for this solar film is architecture, but once released for general use motorists could be making their cars more efficient by applying it to windows and body panels.”