South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group has launched its first vehicle with a solar top, or roof, charging system. Other automakers are also developing solar charging systems as a way to help power electric cars and increase driving distances between charges. In an announcement last week, Hyundai said its system is available on the new Sonata Hybrid model, currently for sale in South Korea. A hybrid is a vehicle that can be powered by both electricity and liquid fuel, like gasoline. The Sonata Hybrid has a structure of solar panels built into the top of the car. The system captures energy from the sun to help charge the vehicle’s battery. Charging can take place when the car is parked or as the user drives it. The energy captured by the panels is converted by a controller into electricity that can be stored in the battery.