.svg)
A more environmentally friendly transport with solar cells
The development of more sustainable initiatives in the transportation industry is constantly evolving. Of course, we keep up and are always open to trying out and testing new initiatives when it makes sense. That's why two of our trucks are now driving around with solar panels on the roof.
When a driver is on a long trip, it often requires several overnight stays in the truck. Perhaps the driver has to wait a day in northern Sweden to get the truck loaded so he can return home with a full load instead of driving with an empty trailer. On long trips like these, the trucks are a home for the drivers. It's where they sleep, watch TV, make food and coffee, and charge their phones and computers.
Just like any other household, it takes power to run the fridge, TV, heater and coffee maker. Truck drivers are often criticized for idling at rest areas, for example, but it's often a necessity for them to power their "home".
Solar cells replace idling
With solar cells installed on the roof of the trucks, this is no longer a problem. The solar cells supply power to the trucks both when they are driving and when they are stationary, so there is no need to start and idle the trucks to generate power.
It's great for the drivers that they don't have to worry about it, and of course it's good for the environment that the trucks don't have to spend unnecessary fuel idling.
Solar panels on the roof are a great way to reduce our CO2 consumption when our drivers are on long journeys.
Solar cells are not just solar cells
Our solar cells are supplied by the company Green Energy/MIPV.pro. They specialize in making solar cells for mobile devices such as cars, boats and caravans. You can't use the commonly known solar cells, like the ones we typically see on houses and in solar parks, on vehicles.
The reason for this is that houses use a good and cheap technology called crystalline solar cells. This type of solar cell is good for things that are completely stationary, but unfortunately cannot be used for cars and other things that move because they are very fragile, where micro cracks occur at the slightest shaking.
Flexible crystalline solar cells are also available on the market, but you have to be careful with them because even though they bend easily, they still form small micro cracks that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Over time, these cracks can pose a fire hazard because the electrons build up and can generate so much heat that the back of the solar cells can catch fire.
The solar cells we use for our trucks are called CIGS, which stands for copper, indium, gallium and selenide. The CIGS material is deposited on a small stainless steel plate, which is joined together with several small plates to form a larger solar panel. This type of solar cell is very robust and can withstand shaking, impact and being driven over by a car.
Satisfied drivers
By installing solar panels on our trucks, we are able to maintain power on the vehicle without idling, thereby both reducing our fuel consumption and our CO2 emissions. This means that our drivers can use all the facilities in the truck with a clear conscience.
At H. Daugaard , we are always looking for solutions that can contribute to more sustainable transportation. That's why we're also testing solar cells on several of our trucks to see how it works in practice for our drivers. And so far, we can say that we are getting good feedback.
