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To: V_TWIN

Do any electric cars have a solar panel on the roof? That would actually help recharge your car, at least during daytime driving. I don’t know if that technology exists though, to have a solar panel on a car.


7 posted on 03/11/2022 12:46:24 PM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Not a lot of sunshine when when the big storms are around.


14 posted on 03/11/2022 12:48:38 PM PST by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Not enough space to do much good. Instead Tesla comes with a giant, beautiful sunroof.


17 posted on 03/11/2022 12:50:26 PM PST by bhl
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To: All

18 posted on 03/11/2022 12:51:29 PM PST by FLNittany
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Oh lord, shades of the Univ. of MD’s stupid Solar Car Project.

I graduated 30 years ago there. The Solar Car was the on-going never-ending project and competition they worked on. Mostly grad students.

I once asked how this could ever be practical, because the car was a very low wedge, completely covered by solar panels on top. This thing would never be able to carry a family or groceries. What is the point?


22 posted on 03/11/2022 12:53:41 PM PST by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVd)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Do any electric cars have a solar panel on the roof?


I’m sure the technology exists.

The real question is “How does the value of the electricity produced by the rooftop solar panels compare to the cost of adding them, along with the circuitry to charge the batteries with that power?”


36 posted on 03/11/2022 1:11:53 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

it’s been tried

Top 10 Electric Cars Using Solar Panels to Keep the Batteries Charged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al1T-vil36I


61 posted on 03/11/2022 8:29:29 PM PST by Pelham (Q is short for quack )
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To: Dilbert San Diego
I don’t know if that technology exists though, to have a solar panel on a car.

Elon Musk has often stated that a solar panel wouldn't contribute enough charge to make it worthwhile to install on a car. But he said the Cybertruck has enough roof area to make it feasible, and may offer it as an option (partly because of the camping aspects of the vehicle). Solar panels have been available for cars for decades. I had one on an SUV van in the early 1990's that provided a trickle charge to the battery, and powered a fan to keep the interior cool on hot days while parked.

64 posted on 03/12/2022 10:35:44 AM PST by roadcat
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