UK perovskite solar company Oxford PV has joined the Smart Use of Integrated Technology for EV (SUITE) project, a UK-led joint R&D initiative supported by the Advanced Propulsion Center UK (APC).
The SUITE project aims to develop next-generation vehicle-integrated solar technologies aimed at improving EV efficiency and increasing driving range. The consortium includes the Nissan Technical Center UK, engineering firms and UK universities, bringing together automotive industry expertise and research to accelerate the development and commercialization of solar electric cars.
It is part of the latest wave of Advanced Propulsion Center (APC)-backed initiatives, funded through the The UK Department for Business and Trade’s DRIVE35 Collaborate programmedelivered in partnership with APC and Innovate UK. DRIVE35 is a £4 billion UK initiative to support late-stage R&D for zero-emission vehicles.
“Perovskite photovoltaics offers a step-change in solar performance and opens new possibilities for vehicle-integrated solutions. This collaboration allows us to bring our technology leadership to a new class of applications that can deliver real benefits for electric mobility,” said David Ward, CEO of Oxford PV.
Within the SUITE program, it will apply its expertise in the research and industrialization of perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells to vehicle-integrated solar photovoltaics. The focus will be on adapting the technology for automotive applications.
According to the company, vehicle-integrated solar energy can provide additional energy during operation, improving overall vehicle efficiency and extending driving range. High-efficiency perovskite-based cells provide strong power density in a lightweight format, making them well suited for EV applications where output per unit area and weight are critical.
The company operates its primary production facility in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. The plant, which was acquired from Bosch in 2017, produces perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells and began commercial shipments, targeting utility-scale solar applications in 2024.
Recently, Oxford PV has entered into a licensing agreement with US manufacturer of cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film modules, First Solargranting the latter a non-exclusive patent license to Oxford PV’s existing and pending US patents. The agreement covered the potential production and distribution of perovskite-based products in the US, excluding crystalline silicon technologies.
