Ford is to show its solar assisted C-MAX Solar Energi Concept at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Instead of powering its hybrid battery from an electrical outlet, the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept harnesses the power of the sun by using “a special concentrator that acts like a magnifying glass, directing intense rays to solar panels on the vehicle roof”.
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Ford says the result is a concept vehicle that takes a day’s worth of sunlight to deliver the same performance as the conventional C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which draws its power from the electric grid.
“Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept shines a new light on electric transportation and renewable energy,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure. “As an innovation leader, we want to further the public dialog about the art of the possible in moving the world toward a cleaner future.”
After C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is shown at CES, Ford will begin testing the vehicle in real-world scenarios to help determine if the concept is feasible as a production car.
[Editor’s note: The Ford video below is worth watching to see how the sun ray ‘concentrator’ infrastructure works with this vehicle.]
