4 ms·
Solar panels charge really slowly compared to how much energy is needed to move a car. I'm probably totally wrong here, but if the whole car was solar panels I
by Xeoncross 9y ago
Solar panels charge really slowly compared to how much energy is needed to move a car.
I'm probably totally wrong here, but if the whole car was solar panels I would expect 600 watt to be generated. An electric car would need that for 0.8hrs or so to move one mile (0.44 kWh/mile?) plus acceleration.
- dangero 9y agoStill seems worth it for a slight efficiency gain plus the ability to gain charge just by waiting if you run out of juice in the middle of nowhere.
- tempestn 9y agoAnother issue is that most people prefer to have a sunroof on their car. (Ideally a large, panoramic one, as Teslas have.) Can't really do that with solar panels.
- mikestew 9y agoOur Nissan Leaf does (give or take) 4 miles/kWh, or 0.25 kWh/mile, FWIW. I did the math one time, or someone else did, I forget. Anyway, cover the roof of the Leaf with panels and it would make a negligible difference in range. In a fit of dreaming of life off the grid in an RV, I can fit eight 100W panels on the top of our VW camper, and the usable roof on that thing is probably twice what the leaf has.