Quantum has commissioned its German solar affiliate Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems to design and procure production tooling to enable production of solar roof modules beginning in Q4 2010.
For use in Karma, Quantum and Asola have together developed a monolithic automotive solar roof with double curvature that will generate approximately 130W of renewable electricity, to keep the EV’s interior cool while parked in the sun, and trickle charge a 12V ancillary battery when the car is parked for long durations.
The Quantum-Asola team has also developed proprietary technologies and processes to enable the integration of solar cells on extreme curvature substrates.
Apart from the solar roof modules, Quantum will also supply key components and control systems for the Q-Drive powertrain system to be incorporated in the Fisker Karma.
Fisker Automotive secured a $528.7m Department of Energy loan in April 2010 for the development and production of two models of plug-in hybrid EVs, including the Karma, a plug-in hybrid electric sedan and a line of models being developed under Fisker’s Project Nina program.
Reinhard Wecker, founder and CEO of Asola, said: “We are pleased that Fisker Automotive is quickly moving this technology forward to production by the end of this year, and plan to ramp up to volume production starting in early calendar year 2011.”
