Solar Hydrogen Mercedes

[F612]

Hi All,
Early in the season I felt Mercedes might be using solar. But ignored thought for a while but know I see headlines about Solar Hydrogen being developed by Mercedes in China. This makes me wonder if they did have extra boast during 2014 from solar. Also early in the season I waited to see if gap was less in cloudy weather and it seemed that it did slightly. But it all could be just a thought. The color silver may help disguise it. Rob

[Hornet]

I looked up that solar tech by Merc, very interesting stuff. Special paint that can generate energy from solar and air flow.
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...-its-paint-job

Anyway according to the article, the electrical power generated by the paint is used in the electrolysis process that separates water into hydrogen and oxygen. The process of burning hydrogen creates water, and the water is recycled into hydrogen again with an on board electrolysis process. This indicates that the electricity produced isn't powerful enough to help power the car, but instead it can be used for that electrolysis. The electric motor is powered by normal charging and KERS-like tech.

Therefore I don't think that paint tech is useful in F1 at this moment. But nevertheless, it shows how much Merc is investing in alternative energy tech.

Hydrogen engine might be the next thing for F1 in the far future