Debut at IAA Transportation showcases four solar trailer introductions by our organization
In a significant stride towards sustainable mobility, Sono Group unveils its innovative solar technology designed to seamlessly integrate with a wide range of commercial vehicles, including buses, refrigerated vehicles, and solar trailers. The aim is to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
Sono's solar technology harnesses vehicle-integrated photovoltaics (VIPV), generating clean energy directly on the vehicle surfaces, thereby reducing reliance on grid charging and fossil fuels.
Key highlights of Sono Group's solar technology for commercial vehicles include:
1. Series Production with MAN Truck & Bus: Sono has partnered with MAN Truck & Bus, a leading European commercial vehicle manufacturer, to incorporate Sono's solar technology as a factory-installed option on series-produced vehicles, marking a major step towards mainstream adoption of solar-powered commercial vehicles.
2. Use in Refrigerated Vehicles and Solar Trailers: Sono’s solar tech is adaptable for various vehicle types such as refrigerated trailers, where onboard solar power can help maintain cooling systems more sustainably, and solar trailers that can self-generate energy to extend vehicle range and efficiency.
3. Real-World Testing with Ford: Under the EU-funded SolarMoves project, Sono is collaborating with Ford Motor Company to test high-voltage solar integration on a Ford E-Transit van. This testing gathers real-world data on reducing grid charging needs through solar energy, demonstrating potential scalability across commercial van fleets.
4. Climate Impact and Efficiency Gains: By integrating solar panels onto vehicle surfaces, Sono’s technology offers a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption across commercial vehicles, contributing towards climate-friendly mobility in logistics and public transport sectors.
Sono Group’s technology is positioned not just as an add-on but as a scalable, factory-ready solar integration that has proven effective through extensive engineering, collaboration with OEMs, and rigorous real-world validation. They are actively presenting these advancements at industry events and accelerating commercial rollout to promote widespread adoption in the commercial vehicle market.
In Munich, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Transport Europe GmbH showcases a 40t semi-truck trailer with 26 solar modules, generating 11.8 kWh of energy per day and a yearly average. The Kögel refrigerated trailer boasts 54 solar modules and a solar area of approximately 58.9 m², generating 21.2 kWh of energy per day, also with a yearly average in Munich.
The Solar Bus Kit, designed for common 12-meter public transport bus types, including the Mercedes-Benz Citaro and MAN Lion's City, can save up to 1,500 liters of diesel and up to 4 tonnes of CO2 per bus per year from the approximately 1.4 kW peak installation with about 8 sqm of solar panels.
For cargo box type vehicles, Sono Group is developing flexible and light-weight sandwich panel body parts for optimal heat-distribution. Additionally, the organization presents the in-house developed solar charge controller, the MCU (MPPT Central Unit), with an intelligent algorithm that optimises PV modules' energy yields.
The organization, based in Munich, will attend IAA Transportation, the world's most important platform for the commercial vehicle industry, for the first time. At the event, they will display their complete range of technology and solutions for buses, electric transporters, and refrigerated vehicles in Hall 26, Booth C02. The total power installed on the Daikin booth, hall 27, C172, is 9.8 kilowatt peak.
Forward-looking statements in this press release involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Sono's solar technology is engineered for seamless integration into various vehicle architectures and curved surfaces. The Solar Bus Kit allows subsystems like HVAC to be partially powered by renewable energy, thereby saving fuel, CO2, and costs, with a potential payback time of approximately 3-4 years.
With these advancements, Sono Group is set to revolutionise the commercial vehicle industry, making it greener, more efficient, and more sustainable.
- Sono Group's solar technology, harnessing vehicle-integrated photovoltaics, is designed to reduce reliance on grid charging and fossil fuels, marking a significant stride towards integrating clean energy directly on vehicle surfaces.
- In collaboration with MAN Truck & Bus, Sono Group is preparing for series production of solar-powered commercial vehicles, a major step towards mainstream adoption of solar-powered commercial vehicles and climate-friendly mobility in logistics and public transport sectors.
