Irish firm SolarPrint in deal with Fiat

Trade

Ray to go! Solar power may revolutionise the auto industry but don’t take this car to a panel-beater!

Irish energy technology firm SolarPrint has entered a partnership with Fiat, Italy’s car-making giant Fiat, to develop solar panels that can be incorporated into a vehicle’s roof surface to convert sunlight to power.

Under the deal, SolarPrint is a key part of an international consortium working with Fiat’s research arm to develop what is described as a smart roof. It will incorporate low-cost photo voltaic (solar) cells and lithium batteries that will in turn be used to power devices in cars.

The consortium working on the €3 million project, which has been titled the Smartop initiative, includes scientists from University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and Britain’s Imperial College. Other partners are German semiconductor firm Infineon Technologies and auto components supplier Webasto.

SolarPrint CEO Dr. Mazhar Bari says he expects solar technology to revolutionise the auto industry.

Fiat’s Vito Lambertini notes: “We believe this technology will become a major addition to our product lines.”

Technology Minister Conor Lenihan said: “There has recently been much discussion of the contribution by innovation-oriented industries to Ireland’s economy, and this deal is a perfect example of this.”

More info: www.solarprint.ie

Read More: Deals done