Germany’s Sono Motors is launching its public transport solar technology for the first time in partnership with the Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (Munich Transport Company, MVG). The novel solar bus trailer will hit the roads in the Munich metropolitan area in the near future, testing the energy yields as well as the potential of the technology in daily operation.
The concept for the customised solar bus trailer was developed in collaboration with MVG to ensure maximum space utilisation and efficiency.
Sono Solar Technology offers possible savings of up to 2,500 litres of diesel per year and an annual local CO2 saving potential of more than 6.5 metric tonnes per bus.
20 semi-flexible special photovoltaic (PV) modules provide over 2,000 watts of energy to power the vehicle’s battery and electrical loads such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as the trailer’s steering system.
Laurin Hahn, Sono Motors co-founder and CEO, says: “The partnership with MVG illustrates the enormous potential of our unique solar technology, which is now being used for the first time in the company’s history on public transport. This is a milestone in Sono Motors’ mission to make every vehicle solar. Especially in times of rising energy prices and increasing urban area emission regulations, our solar technology offers great added value for public transport operators. City buses and coaches, whether electric or diesel-powered, offer a lot of space and are out on the road every day. The first solar bus trailer for MVG will hit the streets of Munich in the future and allow MVG passengers to experience solar mobility in daily use.”
Veit Bodenschatz, Managing Director and Head of Bus Division of the MVG, adds: “The photovoltaic system on our bus trailer now allows us to test under real conditions how well the power generation works and whether there are perhaps routes in our network that are better suited than others for this type of power generation. The question of what energy savings can be achieved by using solar energy are, of course, particularly exciting against the background of current fuel and energy prices.”
Sono Motors is developing the world’s first solar electric vehicle (SEV) for the masses, the Sion. It has amassed more than 16,800 reservations with advance payments for the Sion.
These vehicles will be produced through contract manufacturing.
