Make My Roof ALL Solar!

[Skennada]

I'm still hoping for a second Tonneau that slides from over the roof, and stops and any point on the top while driving, can can continue over the windshield when stopped. That should add 30 miles a day.
https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-accessories/tonneau-covers/

Sweet!

Advertisement

 

[dano0726]

I would drop from an AWD down to a RWD (dollars saved) in order to acquire the all solar roof that gets 30 miles per day, sitting in the hot Houston sun....or probably just buy a 2nd Cybertruck = better

 

[thejohnllama]

I'm still hoping for a second Tonneau that slides from over the roof, and stops and any point on the top while driving, can can continue over the windshield when stopped. That should add 30 miles a day.

Cybertruck convertible

 

[Skennada]

I would drop from an AWD down to a RWD (dollars saved) in order to acquire the all solar roof that gets 30 miles per day, sitting in the hot Houston sun....or probably just buy a 2nd Cybertruck = better

Certainly, off-roading may not be a need for a lot of CT buyers anyway, hence, away with AWD. I agree, soak up the sun and perpetually power up instead!

 

[Skennada]

Well, if the solar roof isn't free you still aren't getting it free. ?

I'm in Florida so as long as the option isn't too overpriced I'll get it. Really boils down to how many kwh it puts out

Yea, that's hypothetically true. The energy source will ever be free though, even if I paid for the tool that harnesses it. I am hoping that the price wouldn't be too steep as well, given recent advancements and how increasingly cheaper photovoltaic cells have become.

 

[ajdelange]

I'm still hoping for a second Tonneau that slides from over the roof, and stops and any point on the top while driving, can can continue over the windshield when stopped. That should add 30 miles a day.

I'm always amused at what people think they are going to get from solar mounted on a motor vehicle and while it may seem I am picking on this man I just noticed that he is in Manitoba! As noted in an earlier post 15 mi is going to take about 6 kWh and 30 will thus require 12. In Manitoba a 1 kW system delivers about 2.1 kWh/da in December (the worst month) and 4.4 in April. Thus we'd need a 6 kW array in December (about 24 typical roof top panels) but but only about 3 kW ( 11 - 12 panels) in April.

 

[drcarric2650]

I'm guessing you are thinking that solar on the cybertruck is silly in Canada, but every little bit helps, even if it only takes care of daily trickle energy loss, plus because you live in Canada, doesn't mean you have to stay in Canada, and besides, Cool is cool, no matter where you are at.

 

[ajdelange]

Right now I am more concerned about being able to get into Canada than out of it. Yes, solar on the CT is silly. Very silly but it is cool to the point that when the time comes I'll probably get it. I just don't want people who have these ridiculous expectations to be disappointed.

 

[Newton]

I would love solar on the CT. But who has done the math for actual possible miles gained per day? Dont wanna buy the option if it's a gimmick

 

[drcarric2650]

Right now I am more concerned about being able to get into Canada than out of it. Yes, solar on the CT is silly. Very silly but it is cool to the point that when the time comes I'll probably get it. I just don't want people who have these ridiculous expectations to be disappointed.

That is a very good point.

 

[ajdelange]

I would love solar on the CT. But who has done the math for actual possible miles gained per day? Dont wanna buy the option if it's a gimmick

I have but if you think that means I can give you a meaningful answer I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you as the yield from a solar system depends on many factors such as where you live (lattitude, weather), time of year, orientation of the vehicle. You can go to the NREL data to find average insolation levels for your location and you can be sure someone at Tesla did that in support of Elon's "up to 15 miles per day" figure but as I pointed out you can be sure that number more likely pertains to a lowish lattitude in the summer with no cloud cover rather than a cloudy, northern locale in the winter.

Yes, solar is a clever marketing gimmick but it definitely adds a bit of high tech cool to the vehicle. If you leave it at the airport in a sunny place for a week parked in the proper orientation you might pick up enough miles to get you home even if you live pretty far away. If your daily commute is 5 miles you might cover on average a quarter to half that (noting, that YMMV depending on where you live).

 

[TyPope]

I have but if you think that means I can give you a meaningful answer I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you as the yield from a solar system depends on many factors such as where you live (lattitude, weather), time of year, orientation of the vehicle. You can go to the NREL data to find average insolation levels for your location and you can be sure someone at Tesla did that in support of Elon's "up to 15 miles per day" figure but as I pointed out you can be sure that number more likely pertains to a lowish lattitude in the summer with no cloud cover rather than a cloudy, northern locale in the winter.

Yes, solar is a clever marketing gimmick but it definitely adds a bit of high tech cool to the vehicle. If you leave it at the airport in a sunny place for a week parked in the proper orientation you might pick up enough miles to get you home even if you live pretty far away. If your daily commute is 5 miles you might cover on average a quarter to half that (noting, that YMMV depending on where you live).

You know, even if all the solar did was to circulate air and perhaps prevent vampiric loses, it'd be a win if it were cheap enough. But, I'm hoping with all the advancements, there'll soon be panels 2-3 times as efficient as we have now and that charge will be worth the effort. ??=?

 

[ajdelange]

That won't be soon. There is a physical limit called the Shockley limit and while it is possible to go beyond it the complexity of the cell and hence the cost rises dramatically.

Perhaps people could go to one of the many sites that calculates "how much you can save with solar" to get an idea a what a single panel can produce in your area then try to scale that up by the number of panels that you think can be fit onto the CT.

 

[TyPope]

That won't be soon. There is a physical limit called the Shockley limit and while it is possible to go beyond it the complexity of the cell and hence the cost rises dramatically.

Perhaps people could go to one of the many sites that calculates "how much you can save with solar" to get an idea a what a single panel can produce in your area then try to scale that up by the number of panels that you think can be fit onto the CT.

There is still hope out there. What if it were easy to get to 80% efficiency? That 15 miles becomes 82 miles, that's what. No, I won't hold my breath but this carbon nanotube work is encouraging...

Carbon Nanotubes

 

[ajdelange]

What if politicians started acting on the interests of the people?