Aston Martin to Equip Race Cars With Solar-Powered Air Conditioning

British sports-car manufacturer Aston Martin will soon be keeping race-car drivers cool with solar-powered air-conditioning systems.

The company announced a partnership with Hanergy Global Solar Power and Applications Group to equip cars with ultra-thin solar panels that can power auxiliary features, such as air conditioning, without sucking power from the engine.

The FIA, the governing body for world motor sport, requires World Endurance Championship cars to maintain a cockpit temperature below 32 degrees Celsius (90 degress Fahrenheit) to prevent drivers from overheating, according to car-news site Auto Evolution. Normally, air conditioning is powered by a car's internal combustion engine, draining its power and decreasing fuel efficiency. Read more...