A solar-powered vehicle that includes a body having a front end, rear end, top and opposing sides; two or more wheels; and a first and second solar panel assembly respectively disposed on the opposing sides of the body.

A solar charging vehicle accessory is comprised of a substrate member, a solar panel, and an electric coupler. The substrate member covers at least a portion of an electric vehicle, the substrate including a top surface and a bottom surface. The solar panel is coupled to the top surface of the substrate. The electric coupler electrically couples the solar panel to at least one of an electric drive of the electric vehicle and a battery pack of the electric vehicle.

A removable roof for an off-road vehicle includes a sheet of polycarbonate and one or more solar energy collection elements attached to the sheet of polycarbonate. Electrical connections adapted to allow energy collected by the solar energy collection elements to flow to an electrical power output are also provided. The solar energy collection elements may be attached to the top and/or bottom surface of the sheet of polycarbonate, or they may be encapsulated in the sheet of polycarbonate. The roof may be removably attachable to the cage of an off-road vehicle using fasteners that may be installed or removed using only common hand tools.

A building panel has a deep drawn transparent film having an inner face and a structure having solar cells on the inner face of the deep-drawn film. The structure has an inner face turned away from the film and an outer face on or closely juxtaposed with the inner face of the film. A reinforcement layer constituted as a mass of foamed granular particles is spread over the inner face of the structure in direct contact with the inner face of the structure without the interposition of an adhesive and is heat cured to the film.

A method of controlling a vehicle includes: determining whether a condition for entry into a refresh mode of a battery in the vehicle is satisfied; when the condition is satisfied, predicting an amount of power generated by a solar generator; determining whether to perform the refresh mode based on the predicted amount of power; when the refresh mode is determined to perform, charging the battery using the power generated by the solar generator; identifying a charge amount of the battery; when the identified charge amount is greater than or equal to a first reference charge amount, terminating charging the battery; when an ignition-on command is received, determining whether the charge amount of the battery is greater than or equal to the first reference charge amount; when the charge amount of the battery is less than the first reference charge amount, charging the battery using power generated by an alternator.

A transport refrigeration unit (TRU) system (IO) is provided. The TRU system includes a TRU (30), an electrical grid and a control unit. The TRU (30) is configured to be operably coupled a container (20) and includes components configured to control an environment within an interior of the container (20) and a TRU battery pack (40) configured to store energy for powering at least the components. The control unit is communicative with the TRU (30) and the electrical grid and is configured to manage power supplies and demands between the TRU battery pack (40) of each TRU (30) and the electrical grid.

An aeronautical car includes a ground-travel system including a drivetrain; an air-travel system including a detachable portion configured to house a propulsion device configured to provide thrust and to be driven by the drivetrain when the detachable portion is connected to the aeronautical car, and at least one flight mechanism configured to provide lift once the aeronautical car is in motion; and a weather manipulation device. The weather manipulation device may be configured to manipulate at least one aspect of a weather condition while the aeronautical car is in the air.

A solar powered cooler assembly includes track drive that is drivable over a support surface. The track drive includes a pair of tracks that is each drivable in a forward direction or a rearward direction. Each of the tracks is drivable independently of one another for steering the track drive and facilitating the track drive to have a zero turning radius. A cooler is mounted to the track drive for transporting the cooler over the support surface. A personal electronic device is in wireless communication with the track drive for remotely controlling the track drive. In this way the personal electronic device facilitates the user to drive the track drive.

A gas tank arrangement for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided. In particular, a gas tank arrangement comprising a gas tank for containing a combustible fuel and an electrically propelled gas burning arrangement provided downstream the gas tank.

A smart tonneau cover for a pickup truck includes an input system that receives information concerning a route and the weather forecast for the route to a destination, the height of a cargo, a precipitation sensor, a wind sensor, and to determine the limits to the height, position, and orientation of the portions of a tonneau cover, which can include solar panels that can be moved to optimize power generation and minimize power consumption while protecting the cargo. The solar panels can be positioned when stationary, such as while parked, and repositioned as needed during transit to maintain an optimal power efficiency.