Gosun.com Rooftop Charger for Ev's Can someone explain the logic on this thing for me.

[ipca204]

I get absolutely killed with adds for this thing:
https://gosun.co
I juat have to know who would actually use this thing at it's current cost. This is assuming it ever gets produced. The amount of BS being spewed in the website makes my head hurt as well.
I think it's a complete waste of money but change my mind! lol

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[Glen Boise]

Am unfamiliar with this company. Other companies are proposing adding solar panels (Nissan, Aptera, Telo and others). A couple start ups, that failed, tried them (Fiskar(?)). The idea is if you park outside then why not harvest a few rays to help recharge your battery. Even adding a few volts could help you avoid range anxiety. Especially if you are out in a rural area far from DCFC or even Level 2 charging.

Personally, I would avoid after market stuff. The need for integrating the solar panels and their inverters into the car's electrical system should be done by the car's designers.

 

[cyeung]

Am unfamiliar with this company. Other companies are proposing adding solar panels (Nissan, Aptera, Telo and others). A couple start ups, that failed, tried them (Fiskar(?)). The idea is if you park outside then why not harvest a few rays to help recharge your battery. Even adding a few volts could help you avoid range anxiety. Especially if you are out in a rural area far from DCFC or even Level 2 charging.

Personally, I would avoid after market stuff. The need for integrating the solar panels and their inverters into the car's electrical system should be done by the car's designers.

Speaking of Aptera, I spent all four years of my undergrad on a solar car team, so of course I got in line for an Aptera back in 2021. 🫠 At that time, when I had my 2014 Chevrolet Volt, it was an "attainable" dream car; and it would have totally been my daily driver. If my number ever gets called, I might go through with it as my "fun" car.

At 1,100 Watts, that will give you three miles of range per hour.

 

[ipca204]

At 1,100 Watts, that will give you three miles of range per hour.

but will it? I know that's what the specs state, but......

 

[RickMachE]

LMFAO.

"20 miles daily".

This has to be a joke. Bet people screw with the unfolded panels.

 

[ipca204]

LMFAO.

"20 miles daily".

This has to be a joke. Bet people screw with the unfolded panels.

I know, right? Even if people didn't screw with the panels...... EVEN if 20 miles a day is true...$4000?? What's your ROI on this versus even overpriced chargers? Did anyone ever park and go "Damn, if I could just get 20 more miles out of my last battery charge. " Wouldn't throwing in a Anker Solix f3800 in your trunk make more sense that costs LESS? And god knows that Anker would at least have other uses..
Lol, I don't know why this thing has me all worked up, I need to find another hobby...

 

[Mark813]

You people are not thinking of the homeless EV owners who need to charge their EV while they sleep all day!

 

[ipca204]

You people are not thinking of the homeless EV owners who need to charge their EV while they sleep all day!

lol, you're in florida. at least you SEE the sun. Currently in IL and it can be days or even WEEKS in the winter before the sun comes out....

 

[MillieChliette]

Hah! They claim it's sleek and aerodynamic, but there is no way having a box on top of your car won't rob you of range. I bet for some people it would be more detrimental than beneficial- losing more range due to poor aero than they gain in solar.

 

[cyeung]

but will it? I know that's what the specs state, but......

I doubt you will get that continuously because of cloud cover, orientation of the panels, etc.

 

[spierson99]

You people are not thinking of the homeless EV owners who need to charge their EV while they sleep all day!

What?

 

[Budmen]

Charging your car with solar right over top of it makes so much sense in theory....I wish that they could make it work, but like many other things, we aren't there yet. Even a solar car port sounds nice, but with that sort of investment, you're better off with full house solar.

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

I have a plan for the next house to have the system charge the car on spare power from the solar array. I already have the integration between home automation and the charger.

The GoSun looks interesting, but I think it does better for providing power where you are as input to a power station, but I would not expect much extra range to the car. It would work for a situation where you were in the wilderness for several days, but I think you would have better results from a portable panel or two that was carried inside the car.

 

[Sikkun]

An actual sorta “real world” scenario. Go back and reread The Lost World (1995) and they had specially made field research vehicles made, all electric, complete with solar panels arrays that could be used to recharge them.

It made sense, they were taking vehicles to a remote island with no fuel, but also no electricity. Fuel would be heavy and hard to transport, while solar panels would keep the vehicles charged enough for their actual use case.

Now the dinosaurs chasing them probably caused more range loss than expected. But most field researchers today probably don’t have that to worry about.

 

[Fremont Kid]

Speaking of Aptera, I spent all four years of my undergrad on a solar car team, so of course I got in line for an Aptera back in 2021. 🫠 At that time, when I had my 2014 Chevrolet Volt, it was an "attainable" dream car; and it would have totally been my daily driver. If my number ever gets called, I might go through with it as my "fun" car.

At 1,100 Watts, that will give you three miles of range per hour.

I followed Aptera from their inception until they abandoned their original mission of 300 mpg, down to 100 mpg and then it not performing as well as other high efficiency vehicles during 24 hr tests. Even saw one in 2008 inside a hangar type building at their facility. I hope their next iteration performs better. Regardless, as I recall, Aptera and Toyota's solar panels on the Prius were intended to provide AC cooling power, not necessarily propulsion. Either way, solar panels aren't OEM and I agree the price point makes ROI too expensive.

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