Scientists in Australia are testing printed solar panels with which they plan to power a Tesla electric car on a 15,100-km journey beginning in September.

According to a Reuters report, the Charge Around Australia project will power a Tesla electric car with 18 of the team's printed plastic solar panels, each 18 metres long. The panels will be rolled out beside the vehicle to soak up sunlight when the car needs a charge.

Printed solar is a lightweight, laminated PET plastic that can be made at a cost of less than $10 a square metre.

The panels are made on a commercial printer originally used for printing wine labels.

Paul Dastoor, the inventor of the printed solar panels, told Reuters that the University of Newcastle team would be testing not only the endurance of the panels but their potential performance for other applications.

Dastoor said using the panels to power a car would get Australians to think more about using environment-friendly electric vehicles.

The team will be visiting about 70 schools while on their tour with the Tesla electric car to give students a glimpse into the future.

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