BMW Unveils Solar-Energy Harvesting Carport

BMW already is making a significant move in the electric vehicle market with its new i3 EV and i8 hybrid vehicles. To go even a step further, the automaker worked with a German photovoltaic (PV) technology provider to create a custom solar carport for charging its line of electric cars as well as provide power that can be used in the home.

BMW and Solarwatt, based in Dresden, Germany, have unveiled the Solarwatt Carport System, which includes a rooftop and a micro-generation system for households in addition to generating solar energy to charge the vehicles.

BMW has teamed up with German photovoltaic technology provider SOLARWATT to design a solar carport customized for BMW’s i3 and i8 EV and hybrid sports car. The carport, which also can be used to provide solar energy to someone’s home, will be available in the second half of the year. (Source: BMW)

Solarwatt was already selling its own solar carport system -- designed by DesignWorks USA in collaboration with the company -- when BMW approached them to create one that was more customized for BMW vehicles and could be used for charging the car at home, said Peter Bachman, Solarwatt's director of business development.

“BMW was looking for an innovative full-service supplier of PV systems, which Solarwatt is,” he told Design News, in an email. “Besides PV modules, (the company) is producing energy storages and energy-management systems, which perfectly fit into the philosophy of BMW.”

The new system is part of BMW’s 360-degree Electric Portfolio, which the company launched in 2013. One aspect of the portfolio is to provide charging at home of its EV and hybrid vehicles, which the new carport fits into.

The carport, which has been adapted for the BMW i3 and i8, features Solarwatt’s glass-glass PV modules, which also can be placed on the roof of a home for more energy generation, Bachman said. A carport covering an area of 36 square meters and spanning two parking spaces generates about 4,500 kWh per year, which is roughly equivalent to the electricity requirements of a four-person household, according to Solarwatt.

If the electricity produced is only used for the electric vehicle, it can provide power for driving 32,000 kilometers with a BMW i3, the company said. If the vehicle only drives 15,000 km, the carport also could provide about 20% of household energy needs.

The carport itself also is made of a sustainable resource, bamboo, and customers also can monitor the energy being generated and its usage using the BMW Wallbox Pro and Solarwatt Energy Manager, Bachmann said.

Though the carport has been adapted specifically for use with BMW’s i3 and i8 series vehicles, it also can be used with other EVs, he said. And even if a household doesn’t have an EV or hybrid, energy from the carport can be used solely to provide solar energy to a person’s home.

The price of the Solarwatt Carport System, which will be available in the second half of the year, has not yet been determined, Bachmann told us.

Yes, that is a pretty clever feature, Cabe. I think that could be the way forward for people who can't put solar panels on the roof because of their location. I think time will tell how well this design works but it's a good idea anyway.

Good points, NadineJ. This technology may be difficult to sell to city dwellers for just the reasons you described, but for folks in the countryside and suburbs I think it's definitely more viable and a good choice.

It seems like you are in the right location for this sort of application, AnandY. I think an EV or hybrid is a really good choice for you. Range Rovers are nice cars, of course, but seem like they would be, as you mention, a serious drain on the wallet in terms of gasoline purchase. It's good to see you rethinking your vehicle. I myself drive a diesel here in Europe, and while it's a bit better in terms of mileage and affordability than gasoline vehicles, I sure would prefer an EV or a hybrid. I'm not in the position to buy a new car at the moment, though!

Sounds beautiful, Ann! I used to live in SF so am familiar a bit with that area...how incredible those Redwood trees are. Portugal is lovely as well, and not as humid this time of year (though we're having a strange rainy spell--usually it's nonstop sun by now after a rainy winter). We can do lots of solar-roof installations here, thanks to all the sunshine and the lack of very big trees like the ones you have!

Thanks for your post, akwaman. You've made some good points and it seems you are not alone in this opinion. We should look at what companies do with a critical eye, even as we promote their efforts to try new things and support new technologies. The proof is always in how new technologies are adopted and if they are indeed beneficial and cost effective for consumers.

@fm-I think anyone who's interested in alternative power thinks about the contingencies. There are contractors who will read your space before installing to make sure that what you choose is in the correct place.

I don't think it'll be a problem in the suburbs or rural areas. It can become an issue in cities. You may buy a place with a great view and lots of sun only to have a 80 unit condo hi-rise spring up next door blocking everything.

@ElizabethM, please understand; i'm not referring to parking the car in the sun or in the shade of the carport. My point is that no one considers where they'll be parking their car when they're buying the car. They just want the car. The same mindset can easily carry over to this solar carport - people buying it are not in the frame of mind to consider the carport's location and whether it might be shaded for part (most?) of the day. They just want the carport. If they look later - in 6 months or a year - and find that their expensive solar carport didn't produce much (because it's in the shade of their big house for half the day and some big trees for the other half - and it's covered in leaves anyway!), they won't be very happy with BMW. Things like that can tarnish BMW's brand.

I still say BMW's heart is in the right place and their enthusiasm for renewables is commendable, but i don't think they've thought this thing out.

It won't be too much longer and hardware design, as we used to know it, will be remembered alongside the slide rule and the Karnaugh map. You will need to move beyond those familiar bits and bytes into the new world of software centric design.

People who want to take advantage of solar energy in their homes no longer need to install a bolt-on solar-panel system atop their houses -- they can integrate solar-energy-harvesting shingles directing into an existing or new roof instead.

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