{"id":114161,"date":"2026-04-23T02:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T00:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/?p=114161"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:29:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T11:29:44","slug":"solar-powered-mobility-how-vehicles-can-generate-their-own-energy-and-take-the-pressure-off-the-grid-and-logistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sonnenseite.com\/en\/mobility\/solar-powered-mobility-how-vehicles-can-generate-their-own-energy-and-take-the-pressure-off-the-grid-and-logistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar-powered mobility: how vehicles can generate their own energy and take the pressure off the grid and\u202flogistics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The European energy transition is facing a dilemma: electric-powered transport is growing rapidly, yet countries are struggling with worsening grid congestion, limited space for new infrastructure, and spiralling energy prices.\u202f\u202fThe\u202fSolarMoves\u202fproject looked at ways to potentially\u202freduce\u202fthese bottlenecks using Vehicle-Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) \u2013 solar energy generated directly by vehicles themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reducing the growing demand for electricity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Driving an electric car in Europe today offers the comfort of clean, quiet driving, along with access to an expanding charging network. Behind the scenes, though, are some significant challenges. Grid operators are working hard to expand electricity networks, but the capacity of cables, transformers, and local substations can barely keep up with growing demand. Regions in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Italy are facing waiting lists to get connected. Companies cannot electrify their\u202flogistics\u202fbecause there is simply no grid capacity available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, public mood is shifting. Individuals and companies want to be less dependent on volatile energy markets and geopolitical developments. The desire for energy\u202fautonomy is\u202fgrowing:\u202fthis is not about going completely\u202foff-grid, but about greater stability, less vulnerability, and lower energy prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VIPV\u202frequires\u202fno\u202fadditional\u202fland or excavation work. Solar panels are simply placed on surfaces we already\u202fuse:\u202fvehicle roofs, bonnets, and even on the sides. That is what makes VIPV so\u202felegant: energy is generated exactly where the demand is created.\u202fNot only in\u202fmassive solar parks or\u202frooftops, but\u202fmaking use of\u202fthe millions of vehicles driving across Europe every day and parked in places where sunlight is available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drive for weeks without a single charge<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
One of the most striking findings from\u202fSolarMoves\u202fwas how much\u202fVIPV can help vehicles achieve energy autonomy. In Central\u202fEurope, passenger cars can generate up to 55% of their own energy; in Southern\u202fEurope, this could even be up to 80%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And\u202fthat\u2019s\u202fnot just in theory. The study used 23 narrowly defined vehicle types\u202f\u2013\u202ffrom compact city cars to heavy trucks\u202f\u2013\u202fand combined detailed vehicle and driving profiles with meteorological data from Amsterdam and Madrid. The results showed that urban drivers, in particular, can\u202fbenefit enormously. Those who make short trips, park\u202ffrequently, and drive\u202frelatively short\u202fdistances can drive for weeks in the summer without a single charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For drivers, this could significantly change their electric driving experience, as they can reduce the number of charges needed by around 40%, depending on usage, thanks to the lower need for external energy. Not only does that save motorists money, but it also directly eases the pressure on the energy grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially in urban environments, where public charging infrastructure is under pressure, this means less time spent driving around looking for a charger, shorter waiting times, and lower costs. That is the future of electric driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A smarter energy system through individual vehicles<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
VIPV can deliver strong benefits for individual users, but its real power is unlocked at system level:\u202fSolarMoves\u202fhas shown that VIPV directly\u202fimpacts\u202fhow the European electricity grid functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study concluded that,\u202f\u200b\u200bif every new electric vehicle between 2024 and 2030 were equipped with VIPV, total grid demand in Europe could be reduced by 15.6 TWh by 2030 \u2013\u202fequivalent to\u202fthe annual production of\u202froughly\u202f2,200\u202fonshore wind turbines with a capacity of 3 MW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VIPV not only reduces energy demand overall, but especially the peaks that overload transformers, particularly in spring and summer. As a result, VIPV\u202fvehicles effectively\u202frepresent\u202fa kind of hidden potential for capacity expansion at local level: in the simulation using data from Amsterdam comparing the same vehicles with and without VIPV, the effect was equivalent to a 25% boost in transformer capacity.\u200b\u200b\u202fThe CO2\u202femission reductions are also considerable: as grid electricity is not 100% carbon-free, switching all electric vehicles to VIPV would result in a 1.8 Mt reduction by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sustainable and financially beneficial<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
VIPV offers autonomy and convenience for passenger cars, but its value in\u202flogistics\u202fis just as compelling. Freight vehicles would be less dependent on the speed of charging, grid capacity, and diesel \u2013 and in some cases, it also works out cheaper. VIPV is perfect for trucks, vans,\u202fbuses\u202fand trailers:\u202fthese use a great deal of energy to\u202foperate\u202ftheir climate control systems, refrigeration units, and auxiliary engines, yet they all have ample roof space for solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to electric trucks, VIPV extends their daily driving range without charging by up to 15%, meaning fewer charging stops are\u202frequired. For a sector where every minute counts, this provides more predictability and higher operational availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On trailers, the output can reach up to 55 kWh per day in summer, and even 90 to 110 kWh if the sides are fitted with panels too \u2013\u202fenough to fully power refrigeration or hydraulic systems, with zero emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For diesel trucks, VIPV even delivers direct financial benefits: since air conditioning, heating, and other systems would no longer need to run on diesel, this would decrease fuel consumption significantly, saving on fuel costs. This would allow the investment costs of VIPV to be recovered in less than 2 years.\u202fWhat\u2019s\u202fmore, diesel vehicles no longer\u202fhave to\u202fkeep the engine running continuously to keep products chilled, which reduces emissions even further as well as noise when parked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, VIPV also makes the electrification process in\u202flogistics\u202fless dependent on slow grid expansions. Distribution centres can then better plan their charging schedules, reducing peak loads and making energy demand at the depot more predictable. This not only helps companies reduce\u202fcosts, but\u202falso makes them less vulnerable to grid congestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research with real-world data<\/h4>\n\n\n
\nSolar panel on top of a car.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
What\u2019s\u202fdifferent about the\u202fSolarMoves\u202fproject is that not only did it create models, but it also collected 1.3 million kilometres of real-world solar irradiation data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sensors on cars, vans, trucks, buses, and trailers recorded solar\u202firradiation, position, speed, and shading for months. This produced a unique dataset that provides insight into how VIPV\u202factually performs\u202funder various conditions \u2013 from Amsterdam to Madrid, and from dense urban areas to open highways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The measurements showed that actual solar irradiation\u202fwas lower than assumed in the models. One explanation for this is that the models\u202fdidn\u2019t\u202ftake parking behaviour into account. Most people park their vehicles in the shade: under trees, next to buildings, or even in garages. In some cases, this halved the solar irradiation received.\u202f\u202f \u202f Although VIPV works well, human behaviour and vehicle location have a major influence on this. But this shows that behavioural changes and smart parking design could boost the impact of VIPV\u202feven further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bridging industry, science, and policy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
TNO\u2019s role in\u202fSolarMoves\u202fgoes far beyond research alone. The combination of systems thinking, technical models, and turning insights into policy is what makes this work relevant for the European market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The models developed by TNO, such as those for energy optimisation and vehicle energy consumption, form the foundation for consistent vehicle,\u202ffleet,\u202fand grid analyses, which are then used by policymakers, vehicle manufacturers, and suppliers. In addition, TNO made a vital contribution to understanding how VIPV would influence CO2\u202fstandards, vehicle type approval, and energy policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The road ahead: how do we scale up?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
SolarMoves\u202fhas\u202fdemonstrated\u202fthat VIPV is a powerful innovation, simultaneously improving individual autonomy,\u202flogistics\u202fefficiency, and system stability. But\u202fthere\u2019s\u202fmore work to be done to fully achieve its potential.\u202fThis includes developing a clear European framework that recognises VIPV in the Renewable Energy Directive and includes VIPV\u202foutput in the Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool (VECTO)\u202ftrailer calculation model for\u202fdetermining\u202fthe fuel consumption and CO2\u202femissions of trailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next step is to include VIPV in the\u202fWorldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)\u202for similar regulations, so that CO2\u202freductions can\u202factually be\u202fused at national level to secure tax incentives and develop guidelines for solar-ready parking areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to find out what VIPV could mean specifically for your fleet, region, or policy field?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
TNO supports governments, grid operators, OEMs, and\u202flogistics\u202fcompanies in deriving the next steps out of the insights gained from\u202fSolarMoves:\u202ffrom technical feasibility studies and business cases to system impact analyses and scaling strategies. Get in touch to explore how VIPV can create direct value in your organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Solar](\"https:\/\/www.tno.nl\/publish\/pages\/14941\/solar_on_top.jpg\")