FAW Hongqi Has Unveiled a Prototype Solar Sunroof That Uses Next-generation Perovskite Photovoltaic Technology to Turn Part of an Electric

The full-size prototype, installed on Hongqi's EHS7 electric SUV, can reportedly produce up to 300 watts of power under sufficient sunlight and generate around 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. While solar roofs are not new, Hongqi's approach replaces conventional crystalline silicon cells with thin and flexible perovskite photovoltaic materials. The company ultimately hopes to expand the technology beyond the sunroof and onto other parts of the vehicle, potentially allowing an EV to generate enough electricity for up to 80 km (50 miles) of driving range per day.

According to reports, Hongqi integrated the perovskite photovoltaic elements directly into the panoramic sunroof of the EHS7, which is sold in China as the Tiangong 08. Unlike conventional crystalline silicon solar cells, perovskite-based photovoltaics can be thinner, lighter, and more flexible. Those characteristics could make them better suited to the curved surfaces and complex shapes found on modern vehicles. However, integrating the material into a car roof presents its own engineering challenges.

Hongqi's researchers reportedly had to address the sensitivity of perovskite materials to water, oxygen, and ultraviolet radiation, while also adapting the photovoltaic layer to the curved glass surface of the panoramic roof. The prototype reportedly generates up to 300 W in sufficient sunlight, with annual energy production estimated at approximately 400 kWh. That electricity would not necessarily be used solely to charge the vehicle's main traction battery.

Instead, Hongqi said the solar roof could help supply lower-voltage electrical loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators and the vehicle's sentry or monitoring systems. The bigger ambition lies beyond the roof. Hongqi plans to explore integrating perovskite photovoltaic elements into additional body panels, including the hood.

If enough surface area can be covered with solar cells, the company estimates that a vehicle could generate as much as 10 kWh of electricity per day. According to Hongqi, that could theoretically translate into up to 80 km (50 miles) of additional driving range under favorable conditions. The actual energy produced would depend on factors such as sunlight intensity, weather, parking location, and the total photovoltaic surface area available.

Hongqi has also not provided a timeline for bringing the technology into production vehicles. Still, the prototype highlights why automakers are increasingly interested in perovskite solar technology. Traditional silicon panels can be difficult to integrate into vehicle surfaces because of their rigidity and weight.

Perovskites, meanwhile, offer the possibility of lightweight and potentially flexible solar layers that could conform to roofs, hoods and other body panels. The solar sunroof is part of a broader technology push from Hongqi as the historic Chinese luxury brand expands its electric vehicle lineup. The EHS7 used for the prototype is a large electric SUV with a reported WLTP range of up to 475 km and peak power of 253 kW.

Hongqi is also exploring other advanced EV technologies, including high-power charging systems and solid-state battery development. The solar sunroof remains a prototype.