Solar tree prototype generates and stores energy for rapid EV charging

London-based renewable energy start-up SolarBotanic has developed a prototype of what it claims to be the world’s “first affordable, mass-produced, solar energy tree”. The first SolarBotanic Trees will be available in early 2023.

SolarBotanic says the trees are particularly suited to power EV charging at large-scale commercial sites such as car parks at airports, shopping malls, exhibition centres, office sites and sports stadia.

The result of five years’ development, the solar tree generates and stores solar energy using innovative and highly efficient photovoltaics that incorporate 3D leaf-shaped nano-technology.

The project was developed in collaboration with Co-Innovate, a business support programme which supports SMEs in London by using academic and innovation resources at Brunel University London, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry and the AMRC’s Design and Prototyping Group who will be conducting the prototype testing.

This first-generation SolarBotanic Tree will eventually spawn a family of products, primarily aimed at the rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging market for homes, businesses and commercial car parks.

The trees can be connected to an artificial intelligence-driven energy storage and power management system, where trees can be linked and form part of a local grid, or feed into the main grid.