Webasto and Konarka Technologies start Cooperation

STOCKDORF, GERMANY – October 24, 2011: On the occasion of the eCarTech, the international trade fair for electric mobility, Konarka Technologies, the US manufacturer of organic solar cells, and the top 100 automobile supplier Webasto, officially announce their cooperation on integrating organic solar cells in automobile roof systems. The trade fair takes place in Munich from 18 to 21 October 2011.

As one of the 100 largest automobile suppliers, Webasto is specialised in developing and producing automobile roof systems and has taken on a leading role in the application of new materials and innovative roofs. “We are pleased to be able to work with this forward looking company”, says Alexander Valenzuela, Konarka’s Vice President of Business Development Europe. “We deliver our Power Plastic® technology with the corresponding parameters that Webasto needs for its products. Our organic solar cells have special features including transparency, are available in different colors, are flexible and lightweight.”

Webasto is a pioneer for solar technology in the automotive sector. For over 20 years the company has been developing and producing automobile roof systems with solar functionality. Against the background of the world’s growing number of electronic and hybrid vehicles, the company’s expertise for solar modules in roof systems is becoming more and more significant. In the future, Webasto plans on integrating organic solar cells from Konarka Technologies in automobile roofs. To this purpose, Dr. Jörg Löffler, Global Vice President of Product Group Efficiency Technologies explains: “We have had intensive discussions with automobile manufacturers on the value of organic solar cells. The organic solar cells from Konarka offer a transparent, light and cost-effective solution for use in roof systems. The main task of the cooperation will be increasing the efficiency of the solar cells to magnitudes suitable for automobiles.”

Konarka works with high level OEM partners, like Webasto, to continue to develop Power Plastic for commercial uses. The automotive sector is a target market for Konarka and building integrated projects (BIPV) remain central to the company.

Organic Solar Cells: Technical Background

Organic solar cells are flexible, unbreakable, non-toxic and are made of recyclable materials. To date, they have achieved efficiencies independently lab certified at 8.4% and are characterized by better weak light behaviour than alternative technologies. Performance is very good at sub-optimal angle of incidence as well as at elevated temperature unlike traditional photovoltaic material. And this is how electricity is generated: in Power Plastic® from Konarka, carbon molecules (fullerene and semi-conducting polymers) generate electricity under the influence of light. The solar cells are printed in a cost-effective roll-to-roll process in many widths and lengths.