Fambro: Meaningful vehicle solar range requires aerodynamic, 3D curved panels
Steve Fambro · Powering cars with solar energy with Steve Fambro of Aptera Motors · Aug 3, 2023 · at 34:49
Steve Fambro, co-founder of solar EV company Aptera Motors, explains the engineering hurdles required to build a functional solar car.
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“If the solar is going to be meaningful, On the vehicle. If it's going to add a meaningful range, the vehicle is going to have to be aerodynamic, right? It can't just be a boxy flat sided vehicle. So if it's going to be aerodynamic, it means you're going to have curves in three D. So fundamentally you're going to be making three D curve panels. So that's number one. How do you bend those cells without cracking or micro cracking, which will lead to a crack and how do you do it repeatedly and consistently, and then also make that panel very lightweight for an automotive application. And then Also make it affordable, and also make it able to stand up to hail and rocks. That's what's required to make it practical, and that's what we've been doing for the past two years.”
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