The immediate future of solar-powered vehicles is becoming clear: smaller, lighter, cheaper systems built to subtly augment electric driving, rather than power it in full. 

Commercial trucks, trailers and transport refrigeration units have been designated top candidates to integrate with experimental solar photovoltaics to lower diesel fuel use or boost power in electric vehicles.

NEW YORK — Walmart and Tesla have settled a lawsuit filed by the retail giant alleging that Tesla installed rooftop solar panels that caught fire.

NEW YORK — Walmart said Aug. 23 that it is working on a resolution with Tesla after the retail giant sued the electric car company’s energy division for installing rooftop solar panels that caught fire.

Electric vehicles and solar tend to get lumped together as partners in the climate-friendly push to phase out fossil fuels. Now they’re competing head-to-head for high-tech components that have been in short supply.

As truck makers prepare to test and introduce Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen-electric trucks in the next 12 to 24 months, one must wonder why only a very small number of truck operators have adopted clean solar technology.

Advances in batteries and charging systems, as well as the use of solar panels, are helping to solve the problem of liftgates that drain a truck's battery.

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Solar technology provider eNow unveiled a 53-foot refrigerated trailer with solar panels mounted on its roof, calling it the first such all-electric solar-based refrigeration system to be deployed.

Solar panel manufacturers said they have worked to make their products easy to deploy, and several fleets said they have opted to install the panels themselves.

A growing number of fleets are turning to an alternative energy source — the sun — to help meet the growing demand for power on board their trucks.