vehicle

Abstract

The amount of power generated will be increased by expanding the area of ​​the solar panel. [Solution] The vehicle comprises a body having a rear portion, and a solar cell panel arranged on the rear portion, the solar cell panel having solar cells including a power generation layer, the power generation layer being made of a material capable of generating electricity using a predetermined type of light irradiated from a headlight device mounted on a vehicle following the vehicle.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Vehicles equipped with solar panels on their bodies are known. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-039144 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional solar cells were designed to generate electricity only from sunlight, so the installation location of the solar panel was limited to the top or side of the vehicle body. Therefore, there was a demand for a larger installation area for the solar panel and an even greater amount of power generation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a vehicle body having a rear surface; and a solar cell panel disposed on the rear surface, the solar cell panel having a solar cell including a power generation layer. The power generation layer is made of a material capable of generating electricity using a predetermined type of light irradiated from a headlight device mounted on a vehicle following the vehicle. In this aspect of the vehicle, the solar cell panel is disposed on the rear surface of the vehicle, thereby increasing the mounting area of ​​the solar cell panel. Furthermore, since the power generation layer is made of a material capable of generating electricity using light irradiated from a headlight device mounted on a vehicle following the vehicle, the solar cell including the power generation layer can generate electricity using light irradiated from the headlight device mounted on the vehicle following the vehicle. This increases the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel. (2) In the vehicle of the above aspect, the power generation layer is made of a material having a perovskite structure and is configured to be able to generate electricity using LED light. According to this aspect of the vehicle, the power generation layer is made of a material having a perovskite structure, so the solar cell including such a power generation layer can generate electricity using LED light irradiated from an LED light source of a headlamp device mounted on a following vehicle. (3) The vehicle of the above aspect further includes an electrical device disposed in the rear portion and an electrical wiring electrically connecting the solar cell panel and the electrical device. According to this aspect of the vehicle, the electrical wiring electrically connects the electrical device disposed in the rear portion, so that the vehicle can supply power generated by the solar cell panel to the electrical device via the electrical wiring. Therefore, the electrical wiring can be shorter than in a configuration in which power generated by the solar cell panel is supplied to a vehicle battery. (4) In the vehicle of the above aspect, the electrical device is any one of a tail lamp, a brake lamp, and a backup lamp. According to this vehicle, the electrical device is any one of a tail lamp, a brake lamp, and a backup lamp, so the vehicle can supply power generated by the solar panel to any one of the tail lamp, the brake lamp, and the backup lamp. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a solar cell included in a solar cell panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the irradiance at each wavelength of light for each type of light. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the quantum efficiency of light absorbed by the power generation layer at each wavelength for each material of the power generation layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A. Implementation: A1. Overall configuration of vehicle 100: The overall configuration of vehicle 100 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In this disclosure, the direction along the traveling direction of vehicle 100 is referred to as the "front-rear direction," the vertical direction as seen from the driver of vehicle 100 is referred to as the "up-down direction," and the left-right direction as seen from the driver of vehicle 100 is referred to as the "left-right direction." The "front-rear direction," the "up-down direction," and the "left-right direction" are perpendicular to one another.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a vehicle 100 according to this embodiment. The vehicle 100 includes a vehicle body 10 and a solar panel 20. The vehicle body 10 has a rear section 15 at the rear of the vehicle body 10. The rear section 15 forms part of the vehicle body 10 and separates the trunk of the vehicle 100 from the exterior space. In this disclosure, the vehicle 100 may be a vehicle that runs on wheels or a vehicle that runs on tracks, such as a passenger car, truck, bus, tank, or construction vehicle. The vehicle 100 includes an electric vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle), a gasoline-powered vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle.

[0010] <Solar panel 20> The solar cell panel 20 is configured by combining a plurality of solar cells 25 (described later) into a single panel. As shown in FIG. 1 , the solar cell panel 20 is disposed on the outer surface of the rear surface portion 15. More specifically, the solar cell panel 20 is disposed on the outer surface of the rear bumper RB located below the license plate NP on the rear surface portion 15. In addition, solar cell panels 20 are disposed between the license plate NP and the left rear lamp LRL, and between the license plate NP and the right rear lamp RRL. Hereinafter, the left rear lamp LRL and the right rear lamp RRL will be collectively referred to as the rear lamp RL. The solar cell panel 20 is attached to the rear surface portion 15 by a known method, such as using an adhesive.

[0011] <Solar Cell 25> FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a solar cell 25 included in the solar cell panel 20 of this embodiment. The solar cell 25 is configured by stacking a negative electrode L1, an electron transport layer L2, a power generation layer L3, a hole transport layer L4, and a positive electrode L5 on the outer surface of the rear surface portion 15 in this order, starting from the side furthest from the rear surface portion 15. A sealing layer 26 is provided behind the negative electrode L1. The sealing layer 26 is made of, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate resin. A cover glass 27 is provided behind the sealing layer 26. The cover glass 27 protects the solar cell 25 from heat, moisture, and the like. The power generation layer L3 of the solar cell 25 is made of a material having a perovskite structure. While the specific material is not particularly limited, as an example, the power generation layer L3 is made of methylammonium lead iodide.

[0012] A2. Power generation using light emitted from the headlights of following vehicles: Next, we will explain the mechanism for generating electricity using light irradiated from the headlight device of a following vehicle. The solar cell panel 20 arranged on the outer surface of the rear portion 15 faces the headlight device mounted on the vehicle following the vehicle 100 (the following vehicle and headlight device are not shown). The headlight device emits a predetermined type of light. The power generation layer L3 of the solar cell 25 in the solar cell panel 20 is made of a material that can generate electricity using the light irradiated from the headlight device. This allows the solar cell 25 to generate electricity using the light irradiated from the headlight device mounted on the following vehicle.

[0013] In this embodiment, the headlamp device of the following vehicle has an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source. That is, in this embodiment, the predetermined type of light includes LED light emitted from the LED light source. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the irradiance at each wavelength of light for each type of light. In FIG. 3, "SUN" indicates sunlight, "LED" indicates LED light, "HID" indicates HID (High Intensity Discharge) light, and HAL indicates halogen light. As shown in FIG. 3, LED light has a higher irradiance in the wavelength range of approximately 350 to 700 nm compared to wavelength ranges other than 350 to 700 nm.

[0014] FIG. 4 shows the quantum efficiency of light absorbed by the power-generating layer L3 at each wavelength for each material of the power-generating layer L3. In FIG. 4, "PVK" refers to a material having a perovskite structure, "aSi" refers to an amorphous silicon material, "Si" refers to a crystalline silicon material, and "III-V" refers to a III-V compound, specifically, gallium arsenide. The quantum efficiency in FIG. 4 refers to the conversion efficiency of quantum numbers at which photons are converted into electrons. As described above, the power-generating layer L3 of the solar cell 25 in this embodiment is made of a material having a perovskite structure. As shown in FIG. 4, the power-generating layer L3 made of a material having a perovskite structure exhibits higher quantum efficiency for light in the wavelength range of approximately 350 to 800 nm than for light in wavelength ranges other than 350 to 800 nm. Therefore, the solar cell 25 including the power-generating layer L3 made of a material having a perovskite structure can efficiently generate electricity using LED light with high irradiance in the wavelength range of 350 to 700 nm.

[0015] 3, HID light, like LED light, has a higher irradiance in the wavelength range of approximately 350 to 700 nm compared to wavelength ranges other than 350 to 700 nm. Therefore, a solar cell 25 including a power generation layer L3 made of a material with a perovskite structure can also efficiently generate electricity using HID light.

[0016] A3. Power supply route of generated electricity: Next, a power supply path for the electric power generated in the solar cell panel 20 will be described. The vehicle 100 includes electrical equipment arranged on the rear surface 15. In this embodiment, the electrical equipment is a rear lamp RL, more specifically, a tail lamp. The vehicle 100 also includes electrical wiring C1 to C4 that electrically connects the solar cell panel 20 and the rear lamp RL. As a result, the electric power generated in the solar cell panel 20 is supplied from the solar cell panel 20 to the rear lamp RL via the electrical wiring C1 to C4. That is, the electric power generated in the solar cell panel 20 is supplied directly to the rear lamp RL without going through the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery is a battery that supplies power to the traction motor, and is generally located in a location away from the rear surface 15, such as in the engine compartment or under the floor. Therefore, a configuration in which electric power is supplied directly to the rear lamp RL can shorten the electric wiring C1 to C4 compared to a configuration in which electric power is supplied indirectly to the rear lamp RL via the vehicle battery. It should be noted that the electrical wirings C1 to C4 in FIG. 1 are shown schematically and may differ from their actual shapes.

[0017] The vehicle 100 has a control mechanism that controls the power supply path of the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 20. The control mechanism detects the voltage or current value during power generation in the solar cell panel 20 and switches between a path that supplies electric power directly from the solar cell panel 20 to the rear lamp RL and a path that supplies electric power from the vehicle battery to the rear lamp RL. More specifically, when the amount of electric power generated by the solar cell panel 20 sufficiently exceeds the power consumption of the rear lamp RL, the control mechanism detects this state and controls the power supply path so that the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 20 is supplied directly to the rear lamp RL. On the other hand, when the amount of electric power generated by the solar cell panel 20 is insufficient compared to the power consumption of the rear lamp RL, the control mechanism detects this state and controls the power supply path so that the shortfall of the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 20 is supplied from the vehicle battery to the rear lamp RL. In this way, the control mechanism senses the voltage or current value during power generation in the solar panel 20 and controls the power supply path to the rear lamp RL, so that the vehicle 100 can efficiently supply the power generated in the solar panel 20 to the rear lamp RL.

[0018] According to the vehicle 100 of the embodiment described above, the solar cell panel 20 is disposed on the rear face 15 of the vehicle 100, thereby increasing the mounting area of ​​the solar cell panel 20. Furthermore, the power generation layer L3 is made of a material capable of generating electricity using light irradiated from a headlight device mounted on a vehicle following the vehicle 100, so the solar cell 25 including the power generation layer L3 can generate electricity using light irradiated from the headlight device mounted on the following vehicle. This allows for an increase in the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the vehicle 100 of the embodiment, the power generation layer L3 is made of a material having a perovskite structure, and therefore the solar cell 25 including such a power generation layer L3 can generate electricity using LED light irradiated from the LED light source of the headlight device.

[0020] Furthermore, according to the vehicle 100 of the embodiment, the electrical wiring C1 to C4 is electrically connected to the electrical devices arranged on the rear surface portion 15, and therefore the vehicle 100 can supply the electric power generated in the solar cell panel 20 to the electrical devices via the electrical wiring C1 to C4. Therefore, the electrical wiring C1 to C4 can be made shorter than in a configuration in which the electric power generated in the solar cell panel 20 is supplied to the vehicle battery.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of vehicle 100, the electrical equipment arranged on rear portion 15 is a tail lamp, and therefore vehicle 100 can supply power generated in solar panel 20 to the tail lamp via electrical wiring C1 to C4.

[0022] B. Other Embodiments: (B1) In this embodiment, the headlamp device of the following vehicle has an LED light source, and the power generation layer L3 of the solar cell 25 is made of a material with a perovskite structure. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The headlamp device of the following vehicle may have other light sources, such as an HID light source or a halogen light source, instead of or in addition to the LED light source. Furthermore, the power generation layer L3 of the solar cell 25 may be made of a crystalline silicon material, an amorphous silicon material, a III-V compound, or the like. Even with the above configuration, the solar cell panel 20 can generate power using a predetermined type of light irradiated from the headlamp device. Below, using Figures 3 and 4, the types of light that can be used for power generation in the solar cell 25 are specifically described for each material of the power generation layer L3 of the solar cell 25.

[0023] <Amorphous silicon materials> As shown in Fig. 4, the solar cell 25 including the power generation layer L3 composed of an amorphous silicon material exhibits high quantum efficiency with respect to light in the wavelength range of approximately 400 to 700 nm as compared to light in wavelength ranges other than 400 to 700 nm. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, both LED light and HID light have high irradiance in the wavelength range of approximately 350 to 700 nm as compared to wavelength ranges other than 350 to 700 nm. Therefore, the solar cell 25 including the power generation layer L3 composed of an amorphous silicon material can efficiently generate electricity using the LED light or HID light irradiated from the headlamp device in a configuration where the headlamp device has an LED light source or an HID light source.

[0024] <crystalline silicon material> As shown in Fig. 4, the solar cell 25 including the power generation layer L3 composed of a crystalline silicon material exhibits high quantum efficiency with respect to light in the wavelength range of approximately 800 to 1050 nm as compared to light in wavelength ranges other than 800 to 1050 nm. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, the halogen light irradiated from a halogen light source has high irradiance in the wavelength range of approximately 900 to 1050 nm as compared to wavelength ranges other than 900 to 1050 nm. Therefore, the solar cell 25 including the power generation layer L3 composed of a crystalline silicon material can efficiently generate electricity using the halogen light irradiated from the headlamp device in a configuration where the headlamp device has a halogen light source.

[0025] <III-V compound> As shown in FIG. 4 , a solar cell 25 including a power generation layer L3 made of a III-V compound exhibits high quantum efficiency for light in a wide wavelength range of approximately 400 to 1200 nm. Therefore, in a configuration in which a headlamp device includes an LED light source, an HID light source, or a halogen light source, a solar cell 25 including a power generation layer L3 made of a III-V compound can efficiently generate electricity using light such as LED light, HID light, or halogen light emitted from the headlamp device. Note that a solar cell 25 including a III-V compound in its power generation layer L3 is generally more expensive than the other solar cells 25 described above. Therefore, for example, when generating electricity using only LED light, a solar cell 25 including a power generation layer L3 made of a material having a perovskite structure, as in this embodiment, is advantageous in that it is relatively inexpensive.

[0026] (B2) In the present embodiment, the solar cell 25 is configured by stacking a negative electrode L1, an electron transport layer L2, a power generation layer L3, a hole transport layer L4, and a positive electrode L5 on the outer surface of the rear surface portion 15 in this order, starting from the side farthest from the rear surface portion 15. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The solar cell 25 may be configured by stacking a positive electrode L5, a hole transport layer L4, a power generation layer L3, an electron transport layer L2, and a negative electrode L1 in this order, starting from the side farthest from the rear surface portion 15. Depending on the material of the power generation layer L3, at least one of the electron transport layer L2 and the hole transport layer L4 may be omitted. The solar cell 25 may also be a so-called tandem solar cell in which two or more different types of solar cells 25 are arranged in series.

[0027] (B3) In this embodiment, the electrical device is a tail lamp, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The electrical device may be a brake lamp or a backup lamp, or a license plate lamp that illuminates the license plate NP on the rear surface portion 15. The electrical device may also be a lamp for the vehicle interior or an in-vehicle audio device that is disposed in a location other than the rear surface portion 15.

[0028] (B4) In the present embodiment, the electrical wiring C1 to C4 is directly and electrically connected to the electrical devices arranged on the rear surface portion 15, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The electrical wiring C1 to C4 may be configured to be connected to a vehicle battery so that generated electric power is supplied to the vehicle battery. Alternatively, an auxiliary battery may be provided separately from the vehicle battery, and the electrical wiring C1 to C4 may be connected to the auxiliary battery so that generated electric power is supplied to the auxiliary battery.

[0029] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 100...vehicle, 10...vehicle body, 15...rear portion, 20...solar cell panel, 25...solar cell, 26...sealing layer, 27...cover glass, C1 to C4...electrical wiring, L1...negative electrode, L2...electron transport layer, L3...power generation layer, L4...hole transport layer, L5...positive electrode, RB...rear bumper, RL...rear lamp, LRL...left rear lamp, RRL...right rear lamp, NP...license plate

Claims

1. A vehicle, a vehicle body having a rear portion; a solar cell panel disposed on the rear surface portion, the solar cell panel having a solar cell including a power generation layer; The vehicle, wherein the power generation layer is made of a material capable of generating electricity using a predetermined type of light irradiated from a headlight device mounted on a following vehicle of the vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, The vehicle, wherein the power generation layer is made of a material having a perovskite structure and is configured to be capable of generating electricity using LED light.

3. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, an electrical device disposed on the rear surface portion; The vehicle further includes an electrical wiring that electrically connects the solar panel and the electrical device.

4. 4. The vehicle according to claim 3, The vehicle, wherein the electrical device is one of a tail lamp, a brake lamp, and a backup lamp.

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