Window module with integrated electropolymeric sunshade

A window module for a vehicle includes a first glass pane and a second glass pane in a substantially parallel arrangement and separated by a spacer. The first glass pane, second glass pane, and spacer define a closed interior volume. An electropolymeric shutter is disposed within the interior volume and configured to selectively obscure the passage of light through the first and second glass pane. The electropolymeric shutter includes a deployable tinting material configured to selectively extend across the first glass pane in response to a voltage difference applied between the deployable tinting material and the first glass pane, a photovoltaic cell coupled with the second glass pane and configured to generate electrical energy when exposed to light, and a controller configured to receive the generated electrical energy from the photovoltaic cell and to selectively apply the voltage difference between the deployable tinting material and the first glass pane.