Scientists in Australia are testing the 2D-printed solar panels that will be used to help power a Tesla Model 3 on a 9,400-mile (10,100-kilometer) journey across the country beginning in September.
The Charge Around Australia project is designed with 18 of the team's printed plastic solar panels, which are about 59 feet (18 meters) long each rolled beside the vehicle to soak up sunlight when needing a charge. This project aims to show people the capabilities of portable solar panels and encourage them to take steps to help avert climate change.
A white Tesla on the road.
Turning Tesla Model 3 Green
Scientists think that the solar panel technology used on the trip could make electric vehicles more viable, especially in remote areas where charging is not always guaranteed, Reuters reported. More so, they hope to quash the remaining anxiety that may still put off people from ditching gas-powered cars and switching to a green alternative of using electric vehicles, like Tesla.
The scientists behind the Charge Around Australia project demonstrated how to charge the solar panel by setting it beside the vehicle to soak up the sunlight that will give solar power to enable the Tesla electric car to run.
Paul Dastoor, the inventor of the plastic solar panel, told Reuters that this project is an ideal testbed to gain insights on how to go about using and powering technology in far-flung areas like space.
The team also explains that the plastic solar panel sheets are made out of laminated PET plastic, which is the same plastic used to make water bottles, that is manufactured at an extremely low cost of less than $10 per meter.
Solar-Powered Tesla Could Run Up to 2 Hours
Charge Around Australia founder Stuart McBaine will begin his two-month journey across Australia in September using the solar-powered Tesla. The solar panels will be rolled and put inside a suitcase that weighs around 100 pounds.
According to Insider, McBaine will be able to cover two hours of driving during the day after spending six hours off charging the solar panels in the sunlight. But he will still rely on charging points when needed and will be followed by a support vehicle.
Although the solar panels at this point have not reached yet the level that they can support practical use for an electric car, especially even with regular charging, Dastoor believes that the demonstration could help encourage people to adopt electric vehicles and alleviate range anxiety when charging points are not accessible in all parts of the country.
As of now, Australia only has 3,000 charging points for electric vehicles. Driving range has been identified by consumers as one of the factors why some people are not convinced yet about switching to go electric or go back to using gas-powered cars after using an electric car.
A 2021 study found that one in five electric vehicle owners switch back to using gas-powered cars after some time due to the hassle of charging them, especially with the lack of charging accessibility.
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