This publication explores the hurdles and opportunities for integrating photovoltaic modules directly into vehicles and analyses what it will take for VIPV to move from niche applications into the broader transport market.
Over the past decades, VIPV has fascinated engineers and pioneers, from solar cars and boats to planes. While the rapid progress of PV efficiency and falling costs, together with advances in lithium batteries, have created a new momentum for electric mobility, bringing VIPV successfully into the mass market remains complex.
The report examines the history of VIPV, lessons learned from early successes and failures, and applies established innovation theories such as Diffusion of Innovation and Crossing the Chasm to current VIPV developments. It identifies both barriers and avenues forward for wider deployment.
Key findings include:
- Customer benefit is decisive: For VIPV to succeed, clear advantages over competing technologies must be demonstrated, whether in cost, convenience, or unique value.
- Crossing into the mass market is difficult: Past attempts often failed to move beyond the innovator and early adopter stages due to high costs, technical challenges, and insufficient customer advantages.
- Niche markets offer opportunities: Applications such as trucks, buses, recreational vehicles and boats may provide profitable early markets for VIPV.
- High-efficiency PV cells as a driver: VIPV can be an outlet for cutting-edge solar cells exceeding 30% efficiency, where customers may accept a premium.
- Integration with broader trends: Bi-directional EVs, solar carports and household PV installations create synergies that can strengthen the case for VIPV.
