Sun shines on Suzuki

TOKYO: Suzuki has developed a carport with a roof solar panel for recharging electric cars while they are parked.

Used with the Suzuki Every electric car, the panel can provide 40 kilometers of running energy with about six-and-a-half hours of sunny weather.

Suzuki built one of the carports at a research center in Hamamatsu City. The system is one of the few examples of an auto recharging system that does not depend on petroleum-based fuels to generate electricity.

Suzuki's carport uses 21 solar panels to generate up to 1.25 kilowatts. It also has a conventional recharging system for cloudy days. The system can automatically select which power source to tap depending on available sunlight and remaining battery. A control system prevents overcharging.