Vehicle component with integrated photovoltaic element, vehicle comprising same, and method for manufacturing same
By applying a barrier layer on the surface of the vehicle components and integrating the photovoltaic elements, the problem of integrating the photovoltaic elements on the surface of the vehicle is solved, and the aerodynamic function and appearance aesthetics are achieved while collecting electricity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202311638562.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-10-04
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-01
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-08
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to effectively integrate photovoltaic elements on the vehicle surface and may impair aerodynamic functions and affect the appearance style of the vehicle.
The integration of the photovoltaic element is achieved by applying a barrier layer on the surface of the vehicle component and integrating the photovoltaic element on the barrier layer, combining the design of conductive trace interconnection and protective coating.
It realizes the integration of photovoltaic components on vehicle components while maintaining or improving aerodynamic functions, improving the appearance of the vehicle, and also having the functions of collecting and storing electricity.
Smart Images
Figure CN119773488A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] introduction Technical Field
[0002] The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the present disclosure. The work of the presently named inventors - to the extent it is described in this section, and aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither explicitly nor implicitly admitted to be prior art against the present disclosure.
[0003] The present disclosure relates to vehicle components, and in particular to vehicle components having integrated photovoltaic elements, as well as vehicles incorporating such components and methods of manufacturing such components. Background Art
[0004] Providing electrical power to vehicles is an ongoing goal for vehicle designers and manufacturers, especially as interest in electric and hybrid vehicles increases. Solar power is a readily available source of electricity, but mounting discrete photovoltaic elements onto vehicle surfaces can be difficult and can compromise aerodynamic function and detract from the vehicle's stylized appearance. Summary of the invention
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide vehicle components with integrated photovoltaic elements. Additional embodiments provide vehicles including vehicle components with integrated photovoltaic elements. Still additional embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods of manufacturing vehicle components with integrated photovoltaic elements.
[0006] According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle component having at least one integrated photovoltaic element is provided. The vehicle component is preferably a component having a surface exposed (or exposable) to light, such as a trunk lid, a hood, a roof, a door panel or a fender. Such a component is usually (but not necessarily) made of metal (such as steel or aluminum).
[0007] Preferably, there is at least one region of the barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the component body. The barrier layer is preferably a non-conductive (i.e., electrically insulating) material, such as enamel. Preferably, there is at least one (and more preferably a plurality of) photovoltaic elements disposed above the region of the barrier layer. These elements may be composed of one or more layers of material. There may be one or more regions of the barrier layer on the component surface, and each region may have one or more photovoltaic elements. In some embodiments, conductive traces may be disposed on the component to interconnect the photovoltaic elements and / or to connect the photovoltaic elements to a battery or other storage device or electrical load.
[0008] According to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle is equipped with one or more components having at least one integrated photovoltaic element. The one or more components preferably have a surface exposed (or exposable) to light, such as a trunk lid, hood, roof, door panel or fender. Such components are typically (but not necessarily) made of metal (such as steel or aluminum).
[0009] Preferably, there is at least one region of a barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the component. The barrier is preferably a non-conductive (i.e., electrically insulating) material, such as an enamel. Preferably, there is at least one photovoltaic element disposed above the region of the barrier layer. These photovoltaic elements may be composed of one or more layers of material. There may be one or more regions of a barrier layer on the surface of the component, and each region may have one or more photovoltaic elements. In some embodiments, conductive traces may be disposed on the component to interconnect the photovoltaic elements and / or to connect the photovoltaic elements to a battery or other storage device or to an electrical load.
[0010] According to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing a vehicle component having at least one integrated photovoltaic element is provided. The vehicle component is preferably a component having a surface exposed (or exposable) to light, such as a trunk lid, hood, roof, door panel, or fender. Such a component is typically (but not necessarily) made of metal (such as steel or aluminum).
[0011] According to the method, an area of the barrier layer is preferably applied to a portion of the surface of the component. The barrier layer is preferably made of a non-conductive (i.e., electrically insulating) material (such as enamel). At least one photovoltaic element is applied to the area of the barrier layer. The photovoltaic element can be composed of one or more layers of material. One or more areas of the barrier layer can be applied to the surface of the component, and one or more photovoltaic elements can be applied to each area of the barrier layer. In some embodiments, conductive traces can be applied from component to component so that the photovoltaic elements are interconnected and / or the photovoltaic elements can be connected to a battery or other storage device or to an electrical load.
[0012] According to this third embodiment, a removable protective cover is applied over the photovoltaic element. A layer of paint or other aesthetic coating is then applied over the surface of the component. Thereafter, the protective cover is removed from the regions of the photovoltaic element, thereby exposing the surface of the photovoltaic element. A protective coating is applied over the surface of the component, thereby covering the photovoltaic element and the surrounding surface of the component. The protective coating is preferably transparent to the light utilized by the photovoltaic element.
[0013] The present invention also includes the following scheme:
[0014] Solution 1. A vehicle component having at least one integrated photovoltaic element, the vehicle component comprising:
[0015] Component body;
[0016] at least one region of a barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the component body;
[0017] at least one photovoltaic element disposed over a region of the barrier layer; and
[0018] A layer of paint covers a portion of the surface of the component body surrounding the at least one photovoltaic element.
[0019] Option 2. A vehicle component according to Option 1, wherein the barrier layer is electrically insulating.
[0020] Option 3. The vehicle component of Option 2, wherein the barrier layer comprises enamel.
[0021] Option 4. The vehicle component according to Option 2, wherein there are a plurality of photovoltaic elements disposed on the region of the barrier layer.
[0022] Embodiment 5. The vehicle component of embodiment 2, wherein there are multiple regions of the barrier layer on the surface of the component, and there is at least one photovoltaic element on each region.
[0023] Option 6. The vehicle component of Option 2, wherein each photovoltaic element comprises multiple layers.
[0024] Embodiment 7. The vehicle component of embodiment 2 further comprises a network of conductive traces interconnecting portions of the photovoltaic element.
[0025] Embodiment 8. The vehicle component of embodiment 1, wherein the vehicle component is at least one of a trunk lid, a hood, a roof, a door panel, and a fender.
[0026] Embodiment 9. A vehicle having at least one component with at least one integrated photovoltaic element, the component comprising:
[0027] Component body;
[0028] at least one region of a barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the component body;
[0029] at least one photovoltaic element disposed over a region of the barrier layer; and
[0030] A layer of paint covers a portion of the surface of the component body surrounding the photovoltaic element.
[0031] Embodiment 10. The vehicle of embodiment 9, wherein the barrier layer on the component is electrically insulating.
[0032] Embodiment 11. The vehicle of embodiment 9, wherein the barrier layer on the component comprises enamel.
[0033] Embodiment 12. The vehicle of embodiment 9, wherein there are a plurality of photovoltaic elements disposed on the region of the barrier layer.
[0034] Embodiment 13. The vehicle component of embodiment 9, wherein there are multiple regions of the barrier layer on the surface of the component, and there is at least one photovoltaic element on each region of the barrier layer.
[0035] Embodiment 14. The vehicle of embodiment 9, wherein each photovoltaic element comprises multiple layers.
[0036] Embodiment 15. The vehicle of embodiment 12 further comprises a network of conductive traces interconnecting portions of the photovoltaic elements.
[0037] Embodiment 16. The vehicle of embodiment 9, wherein the vehicle component is at least one of a trunk lid, a hood, a roof, a door panel, and a fender.
[0038] Embodiment 17. A method of manufacturing a vehicle component having at least one integrated photovoltaic element, the method comprising:
[0039] applying at least one region of a barrier layer on at least a portion of a surface of the component;
[0040] applying at least one photovoltaic element over a region of the barrier layer; and
[0041] applying a protective layer over a surface of the photovoltaic element;
[0042] painting the surface of the component;
[0043] The protective layer is removed to expose the surface of the photovoltaic element.
[0044] Option 18. The method for manufacturing a vehicle component according to Option 17 further comprises the step of applying a protective coating over the surface of the component including the painted surface and the photovoltaic element.
[0045] Embodiment 19. The method according to embodiment 17, wherein the vehicle component is at least one of a trunk lid, a hood, a roof, a door panel and a fender.
[0046] Option 20. The method of Option 17, wherein a plurality of photovoltaic elements are formed on the area of the barrier layer, and further comprising the step of applying conductive paths to connect to the photovoltaic elements.
[0047] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings.The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0048] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
[0049] Figure 1 is a top view of a vehicle component in the form of a vehicle hood having an integrated photovoltaic element according to the principles of a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0050] Figure 2 is a top view of a first alternative configuration of a vehicle component in the form of a vehicle hood having a plurality of integrated photovoltaic elements on each area of a barrier layer in accordance with the principles of the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0051] Figure 3 is a top view of a first alternative configuration of a vehicle component in the form of a vehicle hood having a plurality of integrated photovoltaic elements on each area of a barrier layer and having traces interconnecting the photovoltaic elements in accordance with the principles of the first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0052] Figure 4 is a top view of a vehicle with multiple components having at least one integrated photovoltaic element according to the principles of a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0053] Figure 5 is an exploded view of one possible configuration of a CIGS photovoltaic element useful in embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0054] Fig. 6A is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a vehicle component with an integrated photovoltaic element according to the principles of a third embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0055] Figure 6B is a flow chart of an alternative method of manufacturing a vehicle component with an integrated photovoltaic element according to the principles of a third embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0056] Fig. 7A is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle component after the step of applying a barrier layer region on a surface of the component;
[0057] Figure 7B is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle component after the step of applying a photovoltaic zone over the area of the barrier layer on the surface of the component;
[0058] Figure 7C is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle component after the step of applying a removable protective cover over the photovoltaic region;
[0059] Fig.7D is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle component after the step of applying a paint or other coating to the surface of the component;
[0060] Fig. 7Eis a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle component after the step of removing paint or other coatings and protective covers from the surface of the photovoltaic element; and
[0061] Figure 7F is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle component after the step of applying a protective coating to complete the component.
[0062] In the drawings, reference numerals may be repeated to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0063] According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle component in the form of a vehicle hood having at least one integrated photovoltaic element is provided. Figure 1 20. Although the detailed description and drawings refer to a vehicle hood, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the vehicle component may be any other component that is exposed (or may be exposed) to light, such as a trunk lid, a roof, a door panel, or a fender. Such a component is typically (but not necessarily) made of metal (such as steel or aluminum), however the component may be made of a polymer or a composite.
[0064] The vehicle component 20 has integrated thereon at least one photovoltaic element 22, and preferably more than one photovoltaic element integrated thereon. Each photovoltaic element 22 is preferably formed by depositing one (and more preferably more) constituent layers on a region 26 of a barrier layer on the surface of the component. The photovoltaic elements are preferably CIGS thin films, but they may be some other thin film photovoltaic material suitable for generating electricity from incident solar radiation, such as Cd-Te, amorphous silicon or perovskite.
[0065] like Figure 5 As shown in FIG. , photovoltaic element 22 may include a molybdenum back contact layer 28 followed by a CIGS photovoltaic element layer 24 , a Zn(O,S) layer 30 , an i-ZnO layer 32 , an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer 34 , and a magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) layer 36 .
[0066] The barrier layer is preferably electrically insulating (i.e., non-conductive). In this embodiment, the barrier layer is an enamel, comprising a molten glass (SiO2) mass, which may have various additives to adjust its physical properties, such as adhesion and melting point. In addition to providing electrical isolation, the barrier layer preferably provides a smooth surface for supporting the photovoltaic elements 22. Of course, some other type of material may be used.
[0067] The region 26 of the barrier layer may conform to the contours of the component 20. Similarly, the thin film photovoltaic elements 22, which are preferably formed on the barrier layer, may conform to the contours of the region of the barrier layer on which they are disposed.
[0068] like Figure 1As shown in FIG. 2 , there may be a single region 26 of the barrier layer on the component 20, on which a plurality of individual photovoltaic elements 22 are individually formed. Figure 2 As shown in , there may be multiple regions 26 of the boundary layer on the component 20, on which a single photovoltaic element is formed and divided into multiple photovoltaic elements 22 (e.g., by laser trimming). In general, depending on the geometry of the component and the logistics of the application process, there may be one or more regions 26 of the boundary layer on the component. In general, these regions 26 are applied simultaneously so that subsequent application of regions 26 of the boundary layer does not interfere with previously applied regions. Similarly, there may be one or more photovoltaic elements 22 applied to each region 26 of the boundary layer. Design considerations are limitations on the size of the photovoltaic elements 22, thereby limiting the amount of current generated by each element that must be transmitted. Rather than forming multiple individual photovoltaic elements separately, it will generally be more efficient to form a single large photovoltaic element and divide it into multiple photovoltaic elements 22, such as with a laser or by mechanical or chemical removal. In all of these configurations, the total area of the photovoltaic element is preferably substantially coextensive with the corresponding region 26 of its barrier layer to maximize energy collection.
[0069] Preferably, a layer of paint or other coating 38 covers the surface of the component except for the collecting surface of the photovoltaic element 22, and a protective varnish coating 40 covers the entire surface, including the collecting surface of the photovoltaic element. The protective layer 40 provides protection for the painted surface of the photovoltaic element 22 as well as the collecting surface, and is preferably transparent to the light used by the photovoltaic element 22 to generate electricity.
[0070] like Figure 3 As shown in , in some embodiments, a network of conductive traces 42 of copper or other conductive material can be applied over the surface of the component to interconnect the photovoltaic elements 22 and / or connect the photovoltaic elements to a storage device (e.g., a battery) or an electrical load. The photovoltaic elements 22 are preferably formed so that separate electrical connections can be conveniently made to the bottom and top layers of the photovoltaic elements from above. Alternatively, portions of the network of traces 42 can be applied to the photovoltaic elements before they are formed on the regions 26 of the barrier layer.
[0071] According to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle having a component with at least one integrated photovoltaic element is Figure 4 100. Although the detailed description and drawings refer to a vehicle having photovoltaic elements integrated into the hood and roof, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the vehicle may include photovoltaic elements incorporated into any other component exposed (or exposable) to light, such as a trunk lid, door panels, or fenders. Such components are typically (but not necessarily) made of metal, such as steel or aluminum, but may also be made of polymers or composites.
[0072] like Figure 4 , the vehicle 100 has at least one component, and in this embodiment two components (the hood and the roof), on which are integrated at least one, and preferably a plurality of, photovoltaic elements 22. The photovoltaic elements 22 are formed on a region 26 of a barrier layer on the surface of the vehicle 100. As mentioned above, the photovoltaic elements 22 are preferably CIGS elements, but they may be some other thin film photovoltaic material suitable for generating electricity from incident solar radiation, such as Cd-Te, amorphous silicon or perovskite. The photovoltaic elements 22 are preferably deposited directly onto the region 26 of the barrier layer in one or more layers, although in some applications they may be applied on top of one or more intermediate layers on the barrier layer.
[0073] The barrier layer is preferably electrically insulating (i.e., non-conductive). In this embodiment, the barrier layer is an enamel containing a molten glass (SiO2) material, which may have various additives to adjust its physical properties, such as adhesion and melting point. In addition to providing electrical isolation, the barrier layer also provides a smooth surface for the photovoltaic element 22. Of course, the barrier layer can be some other enamel material, or some other type of material that can provide a thin, smooth, electrically insulating surface.
[0074] The region 26 of the barrier layer may conform to the contours of the vehicle component. Similarly, the photovoltaic elements 22 may conform to the contours of the region 26 of the barrier layer in which they are disposed.
[0075] There may be one or more regions 26 of the barrier layer on the vehicle surface, and there may be one or more photovoltaic elements 22 on each region of the barrier layer. In some examples, there is one region 26 of the barrier layer on which a plurality of photovoltaic elements 22 are disposed, such as in Figure 4 In other examples, there are multiple regions 26 of the barrier layer on which multiple photovoltaic elements 22 are arranged, such as in Figure 4 The photovoltaic elements 22 are preferably substantially coextensive with the region 26 of the barrier layer on which they are disposed.
[0076] A layer of paint or other coating 38 covers the surface of the vehicle 100 except for the collecting surface of the photovoltaic elements 22. An additional protective layer 40 of a clear coat may be provided over the surface of the vehicle 100, including the collecting surface of the photovoltaic elements 22. The protective layer 40 provides protection for the painted surface as well as the collecting surface of the photovoltaic elements 22 and is preferably transparent to the light used by the photovoltaic elements to generate electricity.
[0077] According to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for manufacturing a vehicle component (such as Figure 1-Figure 3 The component 20 shown in FIG. 20 can be integrated with other components to assemble the Figure 4The vehicle 100 shown in FIG. The vehicle component is preferably a component having a surface that is exposed (or can be exposed) to light, such as a trunk lid, a hood, a roof, a door panel, or a fender. Such a component is usually (but not necessarily) made of metal (such as steel or aluminum).
[0078] The method 200 Fig. 6A and Figure 6B According to the method, a surface of a component is cleaned and, at 202, a region of a barrier layer is applied to at least a portion of a surface of a body of the component, such as region 26 described above with respect to component 20, and Fig. 7A . The barrier layer is preferably made of a non-conductive (i.e., electrically insulating) material, such as an enamel made from molten glass frit. The enamel is preferably applied as a slurry comprising glass frit powder sprayed on the surface of the component and melted in place by firing at 750-800°C using a halogen lamp to form a barrier layer of about 100 μm thick. Depending on the size and configuration of the component, one large area 26 of the barrier layer may be applied to the component, or several smaller areas of the barrier layer may be applied to the component. The barrier layer may provide several advantages, including providing corrosion protection for the component, acting as a diffusion barrier from the metal component into the photovoltaic element layer, providing electrical isolation from the vehicle body, and flattening (smoothing) the rough surface of the component. Instead of the enamel, the barrier layer may be made of other suitable electrically insulating materials.
[0079] At 204, at least one photovoltaic element 22 is applied over the region of the barrier layer. Figure 5 As shown in , the element can be constructed from one or more layers of material or one or more layers of different materials using a series of physical and chemical deposition steps. Figure 7B As shown in , one or more photovoltaic elements may be applied to each region of the barrier layer, such as element 22 on region 26. One suitable thin film photovoltaic material is copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). Other suitable photovoltaic materials include those based on cadmium telluride (Cd-Te) or amorphous silicon or perovskite.
[0080] In some embodiments (such as Figure 6B ), at 208, after the photovoltaic elements 22 are deposited on the regions 26 of the barrier layer, conductive traces 42 may be applied to the photovoltaic elements and the regions of the barrier layer so that the photovoltaic elements may be interconnected and / or the photovoltaic elements may be connected to a battery or other storage device, or to an electrical load. The traces 42 may be made of a metal, such as copper or a copper alloy, or of a conductive polymer, such as Figure 3 The traces 42 shown in FIG. 4 are made by 3-D printing. The traces 42 can be applied in a variety of ways, but in this embodiment, they can be applied using 3-D printing.
[0081] According to this third embodiment, at 208, a removable protective cover 44 is applied over the collecting surface of the photovoltaic element 22, such as Figure 7C . The removable protective cover 44 can be a multilayer polymer, such as polyethylene, adhered to the surface of the photovoltaic element 22. In one alternative, the protective cover 44 can be a layer of polymer or other suitable material, which is applied over the photovoltaic element, for example using 3-D printing. In another alternative, the protective cover can be a layer of curable polymer or other suitable material, which is applied over the entire surface of the component and cured (e.g., with UV light) only over the surface of the photovoltaic element, and the uncured material is removed (e.g., cleaned with a solvent).
[0082] At 210, the component may be painted, preferably using conventional processes such as Fig.7D . A primer and basecoat may be applied to the part. A typical coating process may include cleaning the part, dipping it in resin and pigment, coating all exposed surfaces using electrodeposition, typically in a tank, and baking (typically at about 171°C for 25 minutes) to solidify the material. A primer may then be applied to the part, and the part baked (typically at 131°C for 25 minutes) to cure the primer. Finally, a basecoat and / or topcoat are applied to the part.
[0083] After painting, at 212, the protective cover 44 on the surface of the photovoltaic element 22 may be removed, which removes the paint layer 38 that would otherwise impair the function of the photovoltaic element 22, such as Fig. 7E Depending on the nature of the protective cover 44, the cover can be removed mechanically by peeling or rubbing, thermally by heating or melting, or chemically by dissolving. Figure 7F As shown in , after removing the protective cover, at 214, the entire surface of the component can be treated with a protective coating to protect the finish of the paint and protect the surface of the photovoltaic material area. The applied varnish coating is usually baked (usually baked at 129° C. for 25 minutes). The varnish coating acts as a sealing and transparent layer, which also provides mechanical and chemical protection for the photovoltaic element. The properties of the protective coating are selected so that it does not substantially interfere with the function of the photovoltaic element 22, which is generally functional for visible light.
[0084] In some embodiments, the component can be combined with other vehicle components, such as by welding, before or after applying the barrier layer and photovoltaic element area. The resulting component or component assembly has an integrated photovoltaic element that can be used to power features in the vehicle in which the component is incorporated, or to charge a storage device (such as a battery or batteries). Because the photovoltaic element is formed on the component itself, difficulties in installing prefabricated photovoltaic elements are eliminated, and a generally larger area of the surface of the component or component assembly can be provided with photovoltaic capabilities.
[0085] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is by no means intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or use. The broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, although the present disclosure includes specific examples, the true scope of the present disclosure should not be so limited, because other modifications will become clear after studying the drawings, the specification and the following claims. It should be understood that, without changing the principles of the present disclosure, one or more steps in the method can be performed in different orders (or simultaneously). In addition, although each embodiment is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented in the features of any other embodiment and / or combined with the features of any other embodiment, even if the combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and the permutation of one or more embodiments with each other is still within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0086] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "immediately adjacent," "on," "above," "below," and "disposed." Unless explicitly described as "direct," when describing a relationship between a first and a second element in the above disclosure, the relationship may be a direct relationship in which no other intervening elements exist between the first and second elements, but may also be an indirect relationship in which one or more intervening elements exist between the first and second elements (either spatially or functionally). As used herein, the expression "at least one of A, B, and C" should be interpreted to mean a logical (A or B or C) using a non-exclusive logical "or," and should not be interpreted to mean "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C."
Claims
1. A vehicle component having at least one integrated photovoltaic element, the vehicle component comprising: Component body; at least one region of a barrier layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the component body; at least one photovoltaic element disposed over a region of the barrier layer; and A layer of paint covers a portion of the surface of the component body surrounding the at least one photovoltaic element.
2. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer is electrically insulating.
3. The vehicle component of claim 2, wherein the barrier layer comprises an enamel. The vehicle component of claim 2 , wherein there are a plurality of photovoltaic elements disposed on the region of the barrier layer.
5. The vehicle component of claim 2, wherein there are multiple regions of the barrier layer on the surface of the component and there is at least one photovoltaic element on each region.
6. The vehicle component of claim 2, wherein each photovoltaic element comprises multiple layers.
7. The vehicle component of claim 2, further comprising a network of conductive traces interconnecting portions of the photovoltaic element.
8. The vehicle component of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is at least one of a decklid, a hood, a roof, a door panel, and a fender.
9. A method of manufacturing a vehicle component having at least one integrated photovoltaic element, the method comprising: applying at least one region of a barrier layer on at least a portion of a surface of the component; applying at least one photovoltaic element over the region of the barrier layer; and applying a protective layer over a surface of the photovoltaic element; painting the surface of the component; The protective layer is removed to expose the surface of the photovoltaic element.
10. The method of manufacturing a vehicle component according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: A protective coating is applied over the surfaces of the components including the painted surfaces and the photovoltaic elements.