Cars in the future may be able to carry their own solar powered charger with them, folded up in its trunk and ready to be used at a moments notice.
That is the concept behind the ‘Pure Tension Pavilion’, the winner of Volvo’s 2013 ‘Switch To Pure Pavilion Design Competition’. The competition is a part of the launch of Volvo’s massively popular V60 Plug-in Hybrid car.
Designed by Los Angeles-based studio Synthesis Design + Architecture (SDA), the floral-looking ‘Pure Tension Pavilion’ is made from a “tensioned HDPE Mesh skin with embedded PV panels and a perimeter ring made of carbon fiber rods”, ensuring that it is extremely lightweight and easy to set up.
Photovoltaic panes embedded in the fabric allows light from the sun or artificial lighting to power the pavilion. “The car will ‘plug’ directly into the pavillion’s skin, charging its battery with the energy collected over the day”.
The SDA team is currently working with the Volvo Design Center in Camarillo, California in preparation for the official launch in September.
[via Inhabitat]