With more and more people getting aware about the budding environmental issues, companies and designers are continuously thinking of new ideas that promote the use of clean energy. Industrial designers have always dreamt about the possibilities of solar-powered parking lots that not only recharge with clean energy but also generate electricity for lighting purpose. Car parking lots of the future are definitely going to be much more than just storage areas for our vehicles. Here we have some of the best solar car parking concepts. The list also includes green car parking lots that have already been set up at some places.
• Green P parking system:
Designer: Algis Berziunas and Laima Rimkute
The concept is based on the decentralization of parking systems into many smaller spots that can be placed in unused spaces such as under flyovers and bridges. The Green P system also includes a lighting system that can replace or supplement ordinary road lights by charging them with solar energy generated by panels installed on the Green P’s roof.
• The Eco Parking lot:
Design: Green Corridor
Bringing environmental technologies and green design practices under one roof is the Eco Parking Lot. The stylish design will incorporate green plantation and stormwater remediation technology making it more efficient while maximizing greening potential. This visual treat with special student parking will benefit the Community and city of Windsor.
• The Solar Forest Concept:
Designer: Neville Mars
As the name suggests, this concept brings trees like structures into action. The Solar Forest Concept consists of trees that are made up of photovoltaic leaves, whose sole purpose is to collect solar power. At the truck of each tree is a power outlet that is used to charge up electric vehicles. Apart from providing charge, the photovoltaic leaves also gives shade to the cars.
• 90 degrees vertical parking system:
Designer: Baita Bueno
The 90 degrees vertical parking system, one-of-a-kind parking concept parks your car vertically. While you tuck your vehicles into the parking lot, the panels on the flip-side pursue the solar vigor to energize the reclining motor or just keeps piling on for some better use in future. Along with power generation, the unique system allows three cars to park vertically where normally a single car is parked.
• The Solasis Light Tower:
Designer: Klaud Wasiak and Yongbang Ho
Here is a concept offshore parking area that generates solar energy to recharge electric cars and add valuable juice to the grid. This renewable energy generating parking lot is equipped with a solar power concentrating tower that uses the windshields and hoods of cars as sun tracking and concentrating mirrors.
• Solar parking Concept:
Designer: Nejur Andrei
Offering a dual solution to parking and charging of electric vehicles as well, the design proposes the wireless transmission of charge from the solar canopy to the charging coil embedded in the asphalt and later, to the car battery. After sensing an electric car parked, the parking system automatically starts the wireless charging process. Once the car’s battery is full, the sensors embedded in the asphalt stop the charging process.
• Green Solar Canopy:
Designer: Tom Cahill
The new eco-friendly parking concept by Tom Cahill incorporates a glazed solar panel canopy arching over the drive lanes, along with a green roof that supports storm water harvesting. Capturing sun’s energy the canopy generates clean energy, which is used to light up the parking lot at night.
• Solaire Parking Canopy:
Design: Solaire Generation
Solaire Generation’s concept is a modular system that converts the underutilized open parking lots into power plants by providing ingenious structure for PV solar panels. The key features of the design includes high energy output regardless of geographic orientation, acts as a grey water system, well-suited for all solar panels and films, dual charging facility – electric and fuel and solid steel decking .
Few Real Ones:
• Santa Monica Civic Center parking structure:
Here is a design from Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners and James Mary O’Connor that flaunts its attention-grabbing aesthetics with a touch of green attributes. This parking garage in the US incorporates green features like a rooftop solar photovoltaic array to provide shade and on-site renewable energy, storm-drain water-treatment system, greywater harvesting. As far as the construction goes, recycled materials with low-VOC paints and finishes have been used. The building envelope utilizes low-e glazing to decrease heating and cooling loads and the mechanicals are energy efficient.
• Dell’s headquarters parking lot:
Envision Solar has build Solar Groves for Dell to generate energy for the headquarters and the two CleanCharge stations that power electric vehicles. The tree-like structures make use of highly efficient PV modules and convert parking lots from an eyesore to a next-gen farm where green energy can easily be accessed. Outfitted with light fixtures, they will illuminate the parking lots after sunset and will also store enough energy to charge the parked EVs easily. The panels can also be made translucent to allow sunlight to illuminate the parking lots during daytime.
• Isla Vista’s solar parking lot:
Isla Vista’s new parking lot with 45 parking spaces has been built incorporating several eco-friendly features. Residing on a half-acre site that once housed a Chevron gas station, the parking lot has an array of 98 solar panels, which are mounted onto steel beams that are placed just above the parking stall. These panels generate enough power to light up the parking space along with the parking meters. Isla Vista is looking forward to increase the number from 98 to 109 very soon.
• Romag’s PowerPark canopy:
The PowerPark canopy at Romag’s headquarters in Consett generates enough juice to power the EVs parked under it. It is capable of producing 1.5kW of peak power in optimal conditions. It has been designed to be linked to the National Grid, so any power generated but not pumped into an e-car can be utilized in a more efficient manner.