FAW Hongqi made the industry’s first solar sunroof prototype with the integration of a perovskite photovoltaic (PV) technology. It was installed on the Hongqi EHS7 electric SUV, achieving 300W of real-time power generation. This technology can produce 400 kWh of energy annually. In the future, it will provide Hongqi EVs with 80 km of clean BEV range per day.
The idea of placing solar panels on vehicles’ roofs comes from the 20th century. Such elements are already being integrated into some mass-produced vehicles, despite questionable effectiveness. On August 27, the oldest Chinese passenger car brand, Hongqi, shared that it successfully produced the new PV sunroof prototype.
Hongqi managed to integrate PV elements into the car’s panoramic sunroof. The R&D staff moved away from using traditional crystalline silicon, as it is fragile and has low efficiency. Instead, Hongqi used a specific calcium titanium oxide mineral called perovskite. The perovskite-made PV elements are lightweight, thin, and flexible. They reportedly have high photoelectric conversion efficiency, come in various colors, and are low-cost.
Hongqi officials underlined that its R&D center faced some challenges of fitting perovskite materials to a car’s sunroof, as they are vulnerable to water, oxygen, and ultraviolet radiation. Another issue is the curved surface of the glass. The PV sunroof prototype was integrated into the Hongqi EHS7 crossover, which sells domestically under the Hongqi Tiangong 08 name. It is a large five-seater with dimensions of 4925/1950/1680 mm, a peak power output of 253 kW (339 hp), and 475 km of WLTP range.
FAW Hongqi representatives shared that the full-size perovskite PV sunroof achieves 300W of real-time power generation under “sufficient sunlight.” It is suitable for producing approximately 400 kWh of clean energy annually. It is enough to satisfy the needs of low-voltage loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators, and sentry mode.
In the future, Hongqi plans to integrate perovskite PV elements into other body parts of the car, including the hood. It will allow a car to generate 10 kWh of electricity per day, suitable for up to 80 km of daily range. It covers over 85% of the daily travel needs of Chinese car users, according to Hongqi data. However, Hongqi didn’t provide any timeline for this technology integration.
Hongqi is the oldest Chinese passenger car brand. However, it aims to enhance its market position in the BEV segment. Therefore, this automaker pushes tech development. Previously, CarNewsChina reported that the next-gen Hongqi cars will feature BYD’s flash charging technology, allowing charging the battery from 10% to 97% in nine minutes. Moreover, the company started testing the 380 Wh/kg solid-state battery prototype. According to China EV DataTracker, Hongqi delivered 15,445 units in July 2026, domestically.

source