Sono Motors Cooperates With Logistics Provider Rhenus to Optimize Solar Technology

BERLIN and MUNICH, Germany – Sono Motors, the company that aims to revolutionize the future of solar-powered transportation, is working with the Rhenus Group, one of the world’s leading logistics service providers with annual sales of €7.0 billion, on the use of smart solar technology in last-mile logistics. The aim of the cooperation is to collect extensive solar data in real-world operation on the road to further optimize the potential of Sono Motors’ innovative solar technology for use on vans. A first Rhenus Group test vehicle was equipped with irradiance sensors for this purpose and will be on the road for the next 12 months in Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The flexible solar modules developed for integration into vehicle surfaces, in combination with the innovative Sono power electronics also enable use in low or indirect sunlight, as is often the case when driving in urban areas. A fully integrated solar system for a van, for example, has the potential to achieve an output of up to 8.8 kilowatt peak (kWp) with an area of just under 54 sqm. In principle, the use of Sono Solar Technology offers customers from both the transport and logistics sectors the possibility to save greenhouse gas emissions and fuel, as well as increased independence from charging infrastructure and a reduction in downtime. Other potential benefits include extending vehicle battery life, as well as reducing maintenance costs.

“The project with the Rhenus Group provides us with important data to further optimize our patented technology. Our solar technology has the potential to make an important contribution to reducing emissions and increasing range in end-customer delivery,” says Jona Christians, CEO and co-founder of Sono Motors.

“Innovative technologies such as solar-powered electric vans and trucks could contribute a great deal to the energy transition in the future, as no additional land needs to be sealed for this type of ecological power generation,” explains Jonas von Frieling, Head of Innovation Hub for the Rhenus Home Delivery and Rhenus High Tech. “If there is a widespread switch in transport to electric drives, supply must grow accordingly. Solar cells on vehicles could relieve the grid in the process and offer respite for fleet managers by easing the burden on charging infrastructure. We are leading the way with our test project.”

For comprehensive solar data collection, Sono Motors has equipped the Rhenus 15-tonne truck with 4 light irradiance sensors on the sides and roof. These will immediately record the solar radiation intensity in a long-term test under real conditions. A data logger connected to the data center at Sono Motors via an LTE connection transmits the data. At Sono Motors, all measurement data is linked to concrete results and analyzed and transmitted to Rhenus.

Thanks to the versatility of its solar technology, Sono Motors has already signed more than17 partner agreements with companies such as MAN, easymile and Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft (MVG). The first vehicles have already been delivered for some customers and partners, such as a solar bus trailer for the Munich transport company (MVG) and a light electric vehicle prototype for ARI Motors.

Source

Avatar photo
The EV Report

The EV Report is a digital platform dedicated to the global electric vehicle industry. It is a product of Hagman Media Group, and its mission is to inform, engage, and connect industry professionals and EV enthusiasts with relevant news and insights.