CEO of Neosun Energy was welcomed as an expert speaker at the last International electric vehicle exhibition in Seoul #EVS37. Ilya Likhov shared his insights, discussing the current problems that the EV market faces nowadays, and suggested ways to solve them with innovative Solar Energy Solutions.
Recent years have witnessed a remarkable surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales, marked by enhanced range, broader model availability, and improved performance. According to the report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global EV sales continue to soar to record-breaking numbers.
Over a span of five years, from 2017 to 2022, EV sales surged from approximately 1 million to over 10 million units. This growth trajectory starkly contrasts with the previous five-year period from 2012 to 2017, during which EV sales escalated from around 100,000 to 1 million units, underscoring the exponential nature of EV sales expansion. IEA data indicates that sales reached the 14 million mark in 2023. In the Net Zero Scenario outlined by the IEA, electric vehicle sales are projected to constitute around 65% of total car sales by 2030.
But what’s the connection between electric cars and solar power?
The answer is pretty clear – any vehicle needs energy, and the cheapest and most accessible form of energy today is solar power.
One of the most pressing challenges facing the electric transport sector today is the lack of robust and accessible charging infrastructure. The bottleneck in the development of electric transport lies not in batteries or the production of new electric cars, but in the accessibility of charging infrastructure. This includes constraints on power capacities in many countries worldwide, particularly in Europe.
The complexity of developing the charging stations lies in the fact that in many major cities, existing outdated networks cannot cope with the scale of the new infrastructure needed for electric car charging. This is precisely the bottleneck in the development of charging infrastructure.
This predicament has even become the subject of internet memes, with images depicting electric cars being charged by diesel generators, thereby undermining the core mission of electric transport’s environmental friendliness. It’s like vegans sneaking meat.
What could be a solution?
Solar panels enable the construction of charging stations for cars anywhere on the planet, charging electric vehicles directly from the sun, which is precisely what Neosun Energy is doing.
One proposed solution is the advancement of energy storage systems. Innovative energy storage systems would enable charging batteries during off-peak hours and discharging them during vehicle recharging, thereby alleviating strain on already burdened energy grids.
Another solution to the charging infrastructure challenge for electric transport is the construction of Solar Carports.
Introducing modular and scalable designs revolutionizes the solar carport market, offering endless possibilities. Commercial solar carports could be installed in parking lots of offices, shopping centers, and industrial complexes. A notable trend in this segment involves businesses increasingly adopting solar carports to not only provide shaded parking for employees and customers but also to generate clean energy, reducing operational costs and showcasing a commitment to sustainable practices. This dual functionality aligns with the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions in the commercial sector.
Solar stations today are the new oil, and just like oil and gas companies fueled the emerging gasoline car industry a century ago, ultimately building a trillion-dollar industry, today companies like Neosun Energy are solving the bottleneck of electric transport development – the creation of charging infrastructure, – concluded Ilya Likhov.