Thursday, June 10, 2021, 8:49 AM
Everyone has ever experienced the heat that gives off in the middle of the summer, the asphalt or the road, after hours to the sun. But what if we can benefit from all the energy that ‘falls’ to the ground to feed and charge the batteries of electric vehicles?
It is the proposal that Solum makes, a Sevillian startup ‘that produces portable charging stations for all types of electric vehicles, among other things. The most important field is micromobility – electric bicycles, electric scooters, electric motorcycles … – and its renewable energies.
The differential point of these stations is the use of a special pavement, which is able to produce electricity with less solar radiation. According to his calculations, his proposal is able to charge the battery of 15 electric motorcycles based on a room that barely reaches seven square meters.
Visually it can be described as a sunbed – which means that clean energy generates thanks to photovoltaic cells that are integrated inside – on which you can step and walk at the same time. The idea is from Luis Muñoz, Antonio Cabrera and Carlos Rodríguez, graduated from Energy Engineering from the University of Sevilla, who left their work to set up this project that was born as a simple idea.
The panels they have designed are composed of monochronic siliconium cells, which make it possible to catch sun rays and change them into high efficient energy. But moreover, this soil is equipped with non -slip technology, so that people can go through it without danger.
The Promoters also defend that it is designed to fully integrate into urban architecture and especially easy to install and to have low maintenance costs.
Fractions and rain
Luis Muñoz Lombardo, vice -president of product and innovation of Solum, points out that to prevent the panels from breaking because of the lower, humans and vehicles, or suffering from the instructions they have developed and patented a material that transforms a conventional photovoltaic element into a different resistent than the concrete. “This material is the ‘core’ of our system and what enables us to have a global tent technology,” he defends.
One of the problems of solar energy is that it can hardly be stored and that it clearly depends on the fact that the sun wants to transform the heat into electricity. Has this innovative land is prepared for this? Lombardo explains that the stations are “oversized”, so that on rainy days or in which heaven is cloudy, they can continue to work “thanks to the batteries that are housed in it.” And in the “exceptional” matter – appointment – that it is not enough, “the internal battery can be exchanged for another fully charged” ..
Despite the short process, this ‘startup’ has won different prizes and recognitions in different competitions. For now, the cities of Sevilla and Valencia have already opted for these portable charging stations. In June they arrive in Madrid and Rotterdam (the Netherlands). And towards the end of the year they are also present in Malaga, Barcelona and Bilbao. The next goal is to reach Italian countries.
