Toyota showed the solar panels of the future with bright colors and patterns

The reason why solar panels are made dark is obvious: such shades capture more light and reflect it less, resulting in higher efficiency. Therefore, the manufacture of panels painted in bright colors, especially with the addition of drawings, seems pointless.

However, Taizo Masuda, head of Toyota’s carbon-neutral development team, tried to find a way to make batteries more attractive and diverse without drastically reducing efficiency. He was helped by his position at Toyota: the solution was found in the pigments used in car paint, which Masuda describes as “translucent” or “translucent.” They reflect only certain wavelengths, allowing the rest to penetrate and generate energy.