- Kia America discovered a intelligent solution to shield newly assembled autos from hail.
- The hail safety system that’s being put in at its manufacturing unit in Georgia integrates photo voltaic panels.
- The 17,000 photo voltaic panels will present as much as 30% of the ability wanted for the complete automobile plant.
Kia’s large manufacturing unit in Georgia is getting an enormous hail safety cover that can double as a photo voltaic plant.
The three.2 million sq. toes roof will do its greatest to forestall the kind of harm that brought about tens of millions of {dollars} value of complications for Kia in 2023, when 13,000 automobiles have been hit by hail. “It brought about us to assume in a different way about how we retailer and higher but shield our completed merchandise,” Kia Georgia CEO Stuart Countess informed Automotive Information.
Hail safety system with built-in photo voltaic panels at Kia’s Georgia manufacturing unit
Photograph by: VPS
The system, designed by Automobile Safety Buildings (VPS), integrates no fewer than 17,000 photo voltaic panels that may ship as much as 13 megawatts of energy. That’s sufficient to cowl 20% to 30% of the manufacturing unit’s wants, which provides to the corporate’s inexperienced credentials.
This goes hand in hand with Kia’s international objective to chop its carbon emissions by 97% by 2045 in comparison with 2019. The automaker is beginning to transition to utilizing 100% renewable power to energy its manufacturing websites.
Though Kia didn’t disclose how a lot the system will price, a spokesperson informed Automotive Information that it’ll enable the corporate to be eligible for funding tax credit for sustainable infrastructure underneath the Inflation Discount Act.
“VPS hail safety methods are already thought of the trade commonplace for climate safety of enormous areas of threat, and the mixing of photo voltaic electrical energy technology helps producers meet sustainability targets, cut back utility prices, and qualify for accessible tax credit,” Wade White, govt vice chairman of Automobile Safety Buildings, informed Newsweek final month.
“Kia Georgia not solely believes in constructing sustainable merchandise but in addition incorporating sustainable options that shield and promote effectivity and high quality,” he added.
The hail safety system is about midway constructed, with the corporate saying it will be accomplished by the top of the 12 months, whereas the photo voltaic panel integration is scheduled for completion by early subsequent 12 months.
Kia’s manufacturing unit in Georgia builds the EV6 and EV9 electrical autos, in addition to the combustion-powered Sorento, Sportage and Telluride crossovers.
