Electric vehicle roof

Abstract

A PV roof assembly ( 6 ) includes a roof ( 12 ) mountable to an electric vehicle ( 4 ), and a PV assembly ( 10 ) at the upper part of the roof. The PV assembly may be mounted to a separate roof surface ( 34 ) or the PV assembly may itself constitute all or part of the roof. The vehicle may include a secondary PV assembly ( 96 ) coupled to a display unit ( 92 ) to provide an independent indication of the intensity of solar irradiation. The roof may have mounting element recesses ( 68 ) to accommodate mounting elements ( 70 ) of the PV assembly, the mounting elements configured so as not to shade the PV panel ( 14 ). The roof may also be configured to accommodate a global positioning device ( 80 ). The roof preferably includes a peripheral gutter ( 88 ). The roof body preferably includes hand-hold recesses ( 90 ) housing hand-hold elements ( 42 ) at positions to provide a horizontal setback ( 92 ) from the lateral sides ( 93 ) of the roof body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electric vehicle photovoltaic (PV) roof comprising: 
 a vehicle roof body comprising a generally flat PV assembly-supporting upper surface, a peripheral edge circumscribing the upper surface, and a peripheral gutter formed between the upper surface and the peripheral edge;    the gutter having a minimum chosen depth below the upper surface.    
     
     
         2 . The roof according to  claim 1  wherein the chosen minimum depth is at least about 6 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The roof according to  claim 1  wherein the gutter has a minimum width of about 3 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The roof according to  claim 1  wherein the peripheral edge comprises an upper edge spaced apart above the upper surface.  
     
     
         5 . The roof according to  claim 1  further comprising PV assembly attachment devices configured for the attachment of a generally flat PV assembly to the roof body.  
     
     
         6 . An electric vehicle photovoltaic (PV) roof comprising: 
 a vehicle roof body comprising a generally flat PV assembly-supporting upper surface, a peripheral edge circumscribing the upper surface, and a peripheral gutter formed between the upper surface and the peripheral edge;    the gutter having a minimum chosen depth below the upper surface;    the peripheral edge comprising an upper edge spaced apart above the upper surface; and    PV assembly attachment devices configured for the attachment of a generally flat PV assembly to the roof body.    
     
     
         7 . An electric vehicle roof comprising: 
 a roof body comprising front and rear edges and lateral side edges;    hand-hold recesses formed into the lateral sides at chosen position; and    hand-hold elements located within said hand-hold recesses at positions to provide a minimum horizontal setback between the hand-hold elements and the lateral sides.    
     
     
         8 . The roof according to  claim 7  wherein the minimum setback is 2.5 cm.  
     
     
         9 . The roof according to  claim 7  wherein the roof body has an upper surface overlying the hand-hold elements.  
     
     
         10 . An electric vehicle roof comprising: 
 a roof body comprising an upper surface, front and rear edges and lateral sides;    hand-hold recesses formed into the lateral sides at chosen position; and    hand-hold elements located within said hand-hold recesses at positions to provide a horizontal setback of at least about 2.5 cm between the hand-hold elements and the lateral sides; and the upper surface overlying the hand-hold elements.