Lake Forest, Calif.-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies announced on Wednesday that it received $9.4 million for the first production series of solar roofs for the Fisker Karma.
The company says the roof will be “the largest continuous and most highly curved solar roof in a passenger car.” It will use technology developed in partnership with Germany’s Asola to preserve the lifespan of the solar cells in such extreme curvature.
The benefits, according to Fisker:
- Converts radiated power from the sun into stored electric energy, “effectively increasing the range.”
- The solar roof charges the lithium-ion battery to regulate the interior climate control systems.
- Custom honeycomb design and color treatment “complement every Karma paint option.” (An awfully expensive piece of trim, no?)
- Provides up to 200 miles of annual emission-free voltaic driving.
The plug-in hybrid-electric Karma is the product of Irvina, Calif.-based Fisker Automotive, which has staked its name on next-generation, “green” cars. The company — which Quantum co-founded — closed a U.S. Department of Energy loan for $528.7 million in April of this year to develop two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, including the Karma, as well as a four door sports sedan and a line of “family-oriented” models.
The companies will begin volume production of the solar roof in early 2011.
More on the partnership, in a video:
