Self charging EV

[richbee]

I like the idea of this - roof mounted folding out solar panels for up to 30 miles per day self charging.
Not sure how practical or cost effective it is....
https://cleantechnica.com/2024/07/30/go ... f-your-ev/

[Oliver90owner]

“Could”, “up to” and in the US.

Not a good plan for the UK, methinks? Most definitely not in the shorter days of the year. OK for California, no doubt.

[ecogeorge]

Looks a bit like one of my bodges
George

[robl]

Is that actually a product? Does it have a built in battery - if not, what happens if the available power is below 6Ax110V =660W, which i think is the minimum charge rate into the AC car socket.

[nowty]

https://gosun.co/products/ev-solar-char ... _f3b3d7b29

[Oliver90owner]

https://gosun.co/products/ev-solar-char ... _f3b3d7b29

Less than 15 sold/day over those 45 days. I wonder how many of those (if true) will regret buying it. As previous, might be OK for California, or similar climate.

Refundable $100 deposit for perhaps delivery in a year’s time. Likely lose 30 miles range with that on the roof, unless only going minimum miles trips. How much power required for that “up to” what “could be” 30 miles? Full power output would only achieve about 10kWh at good insolation all day long. I reckon it’ll turn out as a bit of a scam.

[resybaby]

Think id be worried about those panels bouncing up and down on my paintwork in a breeze, or some local loony playing tug of war with them.

[Moxi]

We cant be too far away from solar panels embedded in the roof of a car, its not many years back where glass roofs were all the rage, I had a massive one in my old Pug5008 which could easily have been replaced by a PV panel.

As most have said it wouldn't do much in the UK regards charging for distance but it would produce power for the vampire loads and keep the 12V system charged up. If the cost of doing it is little more than the cost of producing a traditional roof then its worth while but I think we are going to have to wait for around 5 years before this sort of thing is built in an optional extra and doesn't mess the aerodynamics up. Sticking something above the roof and messing with the aerodynamics is, imo, always going to be more of a negative than a positive, which reminds me I am off to check my tyre pressures next as that's going to hit my kW/mile more than most things if the rolling resistance is unnecessarily high.

Better off building a solar car port or garage and leave the roof unencumbered. Remember the dude from America who used a Blueti? Jackeri?? (or similar) power station and some folding panels to achieve a similar charge for his Tesla on youtube ? It can be done but should it ?

and then another pointing out the actual size of an array that will do the job properly - if you live in a the sunny parts of the USA


Moxi

[Moxi]

Is it April the 1st ?? This just appeared on everything electric!



I take it as a bit tongue in cheek

Moxi

[Bugtownboy]

Could be worse - could be a VAWT