Solar panels on EV cars

[CanAmAndMore]

Often I've wondered why all EV cars don't have a roof made of solar panels.
Sure that isn't going to charge up that huge battery quickly, but every little bit helps IMO.

EV cars seem to be a sunny climate thing, and if they sit outside for hours per day in the sun, that is still some power.
Heck if its only 2% a year, that is still a lot of electricity considering that massive battery.

It should also help them appear to be more green.

But if a million EV cars have to charge 2% less off the grid, that helps ease the strain on the grid, and also saves coal and natural gas being burnt.

 

[Oillover]

This makes total sense.
i think the reason why it hasn't been implemented, is because folks want/need a sunroof and so far they haven't developed a transparent material that collects solar energy (or maybe they have and I haven't been informed of this development).

 

[Torrid]

It's the basic math unfortunately. I wish more would do it. You give up the glass roof and add weight to the vehicle. It's also not very efficient for the amount of space on the top of a car. On something like a Model 3 it might gain 10 miles a day. Apparently the Aptera is light enough and efficient enough to gain 40 miles a day and they have it available as an option if it ever comes out. It is a 3 wheel vehicle 2 seater though.

 

[NiwradND]

That makes too much sense, cars could charge while sitting outside in the parking lot or even help extend the range on the vehicle. I would like a pickup so I could have a generator in the box. Could weather here in N.D. isn't very friendly to EVs when below zero. My buddy says the 100 degree heat in Arizonia is also hard on batteries.

 

[ripcord]

It just isn't an efficient use of space. You'd need a month of sunny days to half charge a Tesla battery with a solar panel that would fit on it's roof.

 

[NiwradND]

It just isn't an efficient use of space. You'd need a month of sunny days to half charge a Tesla battery with a solar panel that would fit on it's roof.

Then the solar panels setup in the fields are a waste of money if that is the case, but I believe a full roof panel would make a big difference.../???

 

[MrHorspwer]

Math: 165W Pmax solar panel puts out 8.72A @ 18.94V.

A run-of-the-mill level 2 Tesla charger is 40A @ 240V. About 9600W.

So, your roof-mounted solar panel, at it's absolute peak performance, provides about .02% of the charging of a level 2 charger.

Your 2% estimation is off by about a factor of 100 and even that is assuming the sun never sets, goes behind a cloud, or you park under a tree.

The juice isn't worth the squeeze. The hike isn't worth the view.

It'd be like trying to fill your swimming pool by spitting in it when you walk by.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Solar panels go on your roof.

 

[Torrid]

That makes too much sense, cars could charge while sitting outside in the parking lot or even help extend the range on the vehicle. I would like a pickup so I could have a generator in the box. Could weather here in N.D. isn't very friendly to EVs when below zero. My buddy says the 100 degree heat in Arizonia is also hard on batteries.

The problem is the generator option is less efficient than just driving a gas car. Sure it would work in a pinch to get you a bit farther, but all of these trick solutions just mean more weight in the vehicle and less range on all battery because of the weight.

 

[Kira]

but I believe a full roof panel would make a big difference...

I believe scientists made gasoline from rotten milk as far back as 1920.

My point being, just because you believe something doesn't make it true.

 

[Snagglefoot]

The Fiskar Karma had a solar panel moulded into the roof. It was a plug in hybrid. Yep, I think it gave the buyers the false impression it was a significant source of energy.

 

[JustinH]

I drove a new Sonata hybrid it has solar panels on the roof. Very nice car.

 

[ripcord]

Then the solar panels setup in the fields are a waste of money if that is the case, but I believe a full roof panel would make a big difference.../???

Please don't take this as a neg on you, but one could probably buy a half dozen higher output stationary panels for what Tesla would have to charge for the extra feature on the car. Plus, how many owners want to leave their expensive car parked outside all the time instead of in the garage?

 

[CanAmAndMore]

It just isn't an efficient use of space. You'd need a month of sunny days to half charge a Tesla battery with a solar panel that would fit on it's roof.

That would be awesome!

Using your 50% charge per month scenario, that would be 6 full charges per year, for doing nothing.

Imagine if 6 times a year the gas ferry came by and filled up your empty gas tank on your ICE car, for free, while you were parked somewhere.

That would be freaking awesome!!!

 

[ripcord]

That would be awesome!

Using your 50% charge per month scenario, that would be 6 full charges per year, for doing nothing.

Imagine if 6 times a year the gas ferry came by and filled up your empty gas tank on your ICE car, for free, while you were parked somewhere.

That would be freaking awesome!!!

I bow to your superior sarcasm skilz.

Unless you're not being sarcastic and I'm just really dense. I'm pretty sure Tesla would charge a lot for the extra feature. Maybe a grand? Two grand? If so, you might recoup that energy cost before the wheels fell off.

 

[CanAmAndMore]

Please don't take this as a neg on you, but one could probably buy a half dozen higher output stationary panels for what Tesla would have to charge for the extra feature on the car. Plus, how many owners want to leave their expensive car parked outside all the time instead of in the garage?

That would be inconvenient, and who is going to stand guard all day so they are not stolen while you're parked at work, the mall, pub, ballgame, and they do nothing while you are on the road.

A simple way is just make the roof of all electric vehicles a solar panel. It would be charging up all day, and the owner/driver has to do nothing at all for the benefit.
Just keep doing what they are currently doing.

 

[chainblu]

Solar panels go on your roof.

Do those panels make any usable power during a full moon? Just curious...

 

[ripcord]

Do those panels make any usable power during a full moon? Just curious...

Nope. Solar panels only make close to rated power for about 5 hours a day if there are no clouds and are angled toward the sun.

 

[LDB]

Often I've wondered why all EV cars don't have a roof made of solar panels.
Sure that isn't going to charge up that huge battery quickly, but every little bit helps IMO.

EV cars seem to be a sunny climate thing, and if they sit outside for hours per day in the sun, that is still some power.
Heck if its only 2% a year, that is still a lot of electricity considering that massive battery.

It should also help them appear to be more green.

But if a million EV cars have to charge 2% less off the grid, that helps ease the strain on the grid, and also saves coal and natural gas being burnt.

Maybe the utilities are against it as it would mean less sales for them.

I had a Prius for a little while. It had a solar roof panel. When the temperature exceeded a certain level it activated the fan only of the a/c system and took the car out of recirculate mode. When you came out and got in the car the temp inside was basically whatever it was outside, well into the 90's here in the Houston area. Very hot but far less intolerable than the usual 130-140 degrees inside a car without that feature. They dropped it the next year. Stupid decision.

 

[CanAmAndMore]

I bow to your superior sarcasm skilz.

Unless you're not being sarcastic and I'm just really dense. I'm pretty sure Tesla would charge a lot for the extra feature. Maybe a grand? Two grand? If so, you might recoup that energy cost before the wheels fell off.

No sarcasm, 6 free fill ups a year is significant in my humble opinion.

I'm just going to use made up numbers here, so please don't jump on me people.
Lets say that the year is 2030, and the world has 20 million EV cars on it. Those 20 million cars each get 6 free fill ups from the sun, by doing nothing but taking their owners to work, shopping, out for entertainment, or what.
That is saving 120 million fill ups annually from the grid, which in many places is already over used, and they are asking people to turn off their AC which I've heard on the news many times in California.

Less coal and natural gas are burnt, saving the environment, costs, and more than anything, the owner gains more driving range.
While you were golfing, you just gained enough electricity for the drive home from the golf course for example.
Or you have a short commute to work, and daily are adding some power while it sits in your parking space, and now you're plugging it in only once a month, because your short commute only requires 150% battery capacity per month, and you got 50% of that while parked.

I like to go to my cabin at the lake, so lets say that I owned a model 12345 EV made by Super duper car company.

I left the house with 50% battery, used 10% driving there, parked my car for a week, get ready to drive home, and see that my car is now at 54%, which is more than when i left home.

Isn't that a win win win for everybody.

And if you are already dropping $70,000 for a car, what is an extra $2,000 really.