EV range anxiety could be a thing of the past thanks to Mercedes’ new solar paint – which promises thousands of free miles a year

• Mercedes has unveiled a series of future innovations during workshops
• Its 'solar paint' contains no rare earths and no toxic materials
• Aerodynamic braking and power converters aim to improve EV efficiencies

The utopian dream of solar-powered motoring might not be so distant, as Mercedes-Benz recently opened the doors to some of its most forward-thinking engineering laboratories – and it turns out photovoltaic surfaces are very much on the agenda.

During a number of workshops in its home city of Stuttgart, Germany, Mercedes-Benz lifted the lid on how it has been working on a new kind of solar surface that could generate enough electricity for folks in sunnier climates to cover their daily commuting requirements.

According to the German marque, the ‘solar modules’ measure just five micrometers in thickness – significantly thinner than a human hair – and weigh just 50 grams per square meter. They can be applied to almost ...