Go Sun solar panels - charging while parked & covers the car. Would you get one ?

[Old_Norm]

Hey, I've got an idea.

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[MBCook]

Just seems like a massive theft target to me. You look at that and you know it isn’t cheap. Unless you’re camping where no one else is around seems likely to attract the wrong kind of attention.

 

[TowPro]

I did see a Tesla parked outside an Arby's (employee) plugged into 3 solar panels setup on ground racks.

 

[azerik]

I'm working on a USB-C version that can supply .00001kW an hour nearly double the charge of usb-a

 

[Old_Norm]

I'm working on a USB-C version that can supply .00001kW an hour nearly double the charge of usb-a

Too Late.

 

[azerik]

Oh yeah? I'm working on a Full Self Cranking version that'll be released in a few weeks. (Which is faster than 'soon'!)

 

[zvez]

seems a colossal PITA, plus $3k is a lot

 

[Herbknowsit]

Well it does bring to mind that zillions of cars are parked in the sun for hours upon hours so maybe someday parking lots will be required to have over the vehicle covers (carport like) with SOLAR built in using the more rugged and efficient glass panels out now. I've read that some movement is being made in that direction. Every time I park at an airport in an open lot for a week with the sun beating down (along with snow at times) I think how cool it would be if that massive parking lot was making juice for vehicles and housing. I'm in Michigan and just looked at my home solar generation for last winter and it was still impressive! Back in February, which admittedly was more sunny than usual, we still generated all we needed for the house and the monthly mileage for MME.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Hey, I've got an idea.

You’d be surprised how many people would believe that could work.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Well it does bring to mind that zillions of cars are parked in the sun for hours upon hours so maybe someday parking lots will be required to have over the vehicle covers (carport like) with SOLAR built in using the more rugged and efficient glass panels out now. I've read that some movement is being made in that direction. Every time I park at an airport in an open lot for a week with the sun beating down (along with snow at times) I think how cool it would be if that massive parking lot was making juice for vehicles and housing.

I've been on some military base parking lots recently that did erect such PV covers for their rows upon rows of customer parking.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Hyundai did that with the Sonata Hybrid but I think they discontinued it. Same with Fisker Ocean I believe and we see where that is today

A few years back one trim of the 2d Generation Prius did have a small PV panel on the roof. It was just powerful enough to fan-vent the car thru a cracked-open sunroof if the car's cabin got hot enough.

 

[glenthompson]

I wonder how much range you might lose driving with it installed? Nice concept but I think it exaggerates it capabilities. Plus it would only take one jerk to damage it while unattended.

Probably more than most people would think. I remember reading an article some years ago where VW tested one of their cars in the wind tunnel with a ski rack on and off. With the ski rack left on the gas mileage was reduced by about 10%. With the much better aerodynamics of EVs and most modern cars I would bet the loss is greater.

I doubt that those panels would get optimal energy since they aren't aligned to the sun. I have solar panels on two roof surfaces - one points SE and the other SW. I see significant power production differences based on time of day. The SE panels produce better earlier in the day and the SW panels are better in the afternoon.

 

[4sallypat]

How about this:

 

[HuntingPudel]

You’d be surprised how many people would believe that could work.

It’s like the people who tell me to get “free” energy by attaching alternators to my half shafts. ?‍?

 

[HalifaxDC]

I'd probably pay $500 for one that sits outside the car, alongside the car ... for situations when you're camping, at the cottage with non-grounded outlets, etc. ... but I wouldn't pay $3,000 for one that sits on top of the car, scratches the roof, and charges at a very slow rate, even under perfect lighting conditions.

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