Not enough surface area to generate any significant energy compared to typical vehicle use.
It’d be fine if I only used the car to get my mail at the end of the driveway.
“Not enough surface area to generate any significant energy compared to typical vehicle use.”
Using the newest super efficient (34%) solar cells, and plastering the whole top surface and most of the rear window/hatch, they seem to be getting into the low end of the ball park. Not a standalone power source for a real general purpose vehicle, but possibly for a short haul urban commuter vehicle (or golf cart), or to run A/C and a TV/computer for many hours at a halt.
“The solar module with an 860 Watts output enough to power a small microwave could add 44.5 km, or some 28 miles, to the pure-electric range of the car. What’s more, the new module provides solar power also when the car is driven, resulting in a total sun-provided pure battery range of 56.3 km, or 35 miles. All data as per Toyota’s press release, non-EPA, your solar mileage may differ.
Considering that Toyota rates the pure electric range of a standard-issue Prius PHV at 68 km (42 miles), or 25 mile EPA, the bottom line of this experiment is that with those new solar cells, owners of a plug-in Prius would no longer have to plug in.” (On a fair-weather day).