The folks over at BMW Group DesignworksUSA have managed to come up with a solar carport that will be able to house the spanking new BMW i3 as well as upcoming BMW i8 electric vehicles. This particular iSolar carport concept is a one-car idea that will also be part of the BMW i8 official media launch that is happening in Los Angeles in due time. Of course, with a name like the iSolar carport, one can only think that the rest of the setup ought to be environmentally friendly too, right?
The answer would be resounding yes, as bamboo was used as the material of choice in the struts due to its eco-friendly qualities. BMW also claims that whenever the iSolar carport actually harnesses and stores way more energy required other than the needs of the car, then it will be able to use this energy surplus for domestic use.
When it comes to generating electricity from the sun, high grade glass-on-glass solar modules have been called into action. These happen to be translucent and extremely durable, generating a high energy yield in the process. Those panels that are used in Europe happen to come with a 30-year guarantee, now how about that for added peace of mind?
There is a Wallbox that will point to the amount of solar energy which enters the car as well as delivers a detailed analysis of recent charging processes that will point to the respective proportions of solar and grid power. [Press Release]