Posted on 05/14/2021 3:21:30 AM PDT by sodpoodle
Every year, more people in the United States purchase electric vehicles. While electric vehicles can be charged at home or at many charging locations, many people wonder why these electric cars don’t have solar panels. The following guide explores some of the main reasons that electric vehicles don’t have solar panels on the roof.
Solar panels work by converting energy from the sun into electric power. Modern solar panels are very efficient, with many capable of turning more than 60 percent of the sun’s power into electricity. However, they still have some significant limitations.
On average, a 10 square foot solar panel can generate approximately 50 watts with direct sunlight. This is the equivalent of a single lightbulb. Since most cars only have 10 to 25 square feet of space on their roof, the maximum amount of power they can generate is 50 to 150 watts.
(Excerpt) Read more at solyndra.com ...
They are so ignorant of physics that they think solar panels are like lightsabers in the movies-- infinite power in a tiny space.
Our civilization is ending. Soon, a dark, pagan, ignorant time will engulf us all.
60%, Yeah, Bullpuckey.
Modern solar panels are very efficient, with many capable of turning more than 60 percent of the sun’s power into electricity.
Amorphous silica panels are about half as efficient, but they produce at least something even before sunrise.
On average, a 10 square foot solar panel can generate approximately 50 watts with direct sunlight. This is the equivalent of a single lightbulb. Since most cars only have 10 to 25 square feet of space on their roof, the maximum amount of power they can generate is 50 to 150 watts.
Hyundai says that the solar panels can add up to 2,000km per year (around 5-6km per day) of additional range if it’s driven in sunny environments such as Spain or the south of France.
The 60% efficient ones use some sort of solar concentrater.
(around 5-6km per day) of additional range
************
Yep that will get you a long ways down the road......
Sorry, there is not enough energy in sunlight to even power just a commuter car, even with lossless storage and 100% efficiency. (both of which are a violation of the laws of thermodynamics) Also, what happens if you have to park in a garage? As mention earlier, you might be able to generate enough power to run a fan to help keep the car cooler, but beyond that? Not so much.
Electric pickups will soon have the option of a solar bed cover. Paltry as the output is, should produce enough to get you to an outlet after a day or two. I view it purely as an emergency TEOTWAWKI type tool, providing some mobility when the grid is down (both gas and electric) or far.
Aptera has launched....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNjUdTJjiNk
LOL
Wonder if they have a Mr. Fusion?
The big difference will come with the newer developments in solid state batteries. The changes coming out with this battery technology will make electric cars much more feasible.
They will extend the life, charge, use in colder temps and reduce the charge time. Solid state batteries could also out live the life of the vehicle that they are installed in.
Panasonic, Toyota, Volkswagon and several other big money corporations are working on this type of battery technology.
When viable, the current lithium ion batteries will become obsolete.
You are talking about “today.” And I agree with you. 20 years from now? I am confident things will have changed.
Back in the ‘70s & ‘80s several technical schools would organize a student engineering project to build & then ‘race’ their solar cars. These cars mounted solar panels on their upper surfaces and as they were all experimental they weren’t designed for comfort or to carry more than a single person/driver. They usually picked the tiniest team member to be the driver, and the cars were constructed from lightweight material. They often broke down. Sometimes the energy calculations were ‘off’ and the cars could not run in realistic conditions. That was the whole point of the exercise, of course. To teach the students how to “work the problem”.
Even at 100% efficiency, 50 SF of panels would only give you 7 miles of range with 10 hours of charging. Solar cars will never be a thing. For light commuting, topping off would be fine, but plug in is always going to be necessary.
Product Information
Gigawatts: 121
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Just thinking the yet unavailable Tesla Cybertruck might work if a stainless steel Delorean isn’t handy. :)
If you don’t use your e-car for a few days in the summer the sun roof charging will get you 7 miles of charge. Over three days that is like free gallon of gas...
Modern solar panels are very efficient.
Electricity is only 35% efficient
Note post #39
Figure one acre of solar to equal 1 megawatt. From a wind perspective, that’s one windmill. For a coal or nuclear plant, it’s 800 - 2,000 megawatts per plant.
Didn't protect it one bit.
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