Konarka Technologies, a company that developed and commercialized light weight and flexible Konarka Power Plastic organic solar film to generate solar power, declared that it has formed a partnership with Webasto, an automobile supplier for incorporating its Power Plastic organic solar film over the roofing systems of Webasto automobiles. It has made the announcement at the international trade fair for electric mobility, eCarTech being held at Munich, Germany.
Power Plastic will soon make solar powered windows and solar curtain walls commonplace. Credit: Konarka Technologies
Webasto is more focused in formulating and manufacturing roof systems for automobiles and uses new types of roof materials and novel roof models. The company has initiated the use of solar expertise in the automotive segment. For more than 20 years, the company has been formulating and manufacturing roofing systems that use solar power. The technology of using solar power has become more relevant due to the increased usage of hybrid and electronic vehicles. The company has plans to integrate the organic solar cells supplied by Konarka over the roof tops of its automobiles.
The organic solar cells supplied by Konarka Technologies are non-toxic, unbreakable, flexible and above all are manufactured using recyclable materials. Unlike normal photovoltaic products, the organic solar cells perform better at an increased level of temperature and are extremely good at sub-optimal angle of power incidence. The solar cells manufactured as a roll-to-roll printing process are offered in a range of lengths and widths and are cost-effective when compared to normal solar cells. The organic solar cells have achieved a record lab efficiency of 8.4% and perform better under weak light conditions.
Alexander Valenzuela, Vice President of Business Development in Europe at Konarka, stated that the company is happy to partner with a progressive looking company. He added that his company will supply the Power Plastic technology products meeting the product specification requirements of Webasto. He explained that the organic cells produced by the company are lightweight and flexible and come with exclusive features such as different colors as well as with lucidity.