4 ms·

If you run the math on this, even assuming 100% efficient conversion to electricity, it doesn't seem very useful.

hn_throwaway_99 7y ago
> The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun That seems like a big deal. Most drivers actually drive in the 30-50 mile range per day (IIRC Chevy said that over 80% of commuters would be able to only be on electric with their 53-electric-mile-range Volt). So for most drivers this amount of power could reduce their external electricity needs by somewhere between 50-100%.
bochoh 7y ago
>>The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more. As someone with nearly 100 miles of round trip commute (and who parks in a usually very sunny parking lot) I would certainly appreciate 27+ miles of "free" range. Certainly enough to be useful for me. In the case of a Tesla I'm sure it's more than enough to negate the continuous usage of sentry mode as well.
- SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
  I wonder if it'll provide enough power so that you can park and wait with AC or the stereo (admittedly two very different loads) running without worrying about it cutting into your range.
  - bochoh 7y ago
    I think that would wholely depend on the setup for the AC compressor. If it's entirely electric and sized appropriately it can be a fairly efficient mechanism. A friend of mine uses the AC in their tesla to keep pastries cold from lunch to evening commute for < 10-20 miles of range depending on ambient temperatures. Meanwhile my gas SUV idles at .3 - .5 gallons per hour depending on engine load. (4 cylinder 2.0 liter, non-turbo).
    - SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
      They use their Tesla like a fridge for only 10-20 miles reduction????? That's amazing both in it's apparent wastefulness and efficiency. If that's the same scale, solar charging could easily keep your AC and stereo on while you wait.
      - bochoh 7y ago
        I believe they just set the cooling to around 64F to keep pastries from melting etc. First world problems for sure.
        SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
        At least they aren't burning liquid dinosaur.
        zamfi 7y ago
        Ultimately depends on how they're charging their Tesla. Could be gasified or petrified dinosaur!

> The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun That seems like a big deal. Most drivers actually drive in the 30-50 mile range per day (IIRC Chevy said that over 80% of commuters would be able to only be on electric with their 53-electric-mile-range Volt). So for most drivers this amount of power could reduce their external electricity needs by somewhere between 50-100%.

bochoh 7y ago

>>The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more. As someone with nearly 100 miles of round trip commute (and who parks in a usually very sunny parking lot) I would certainly appreciate 27+ miles of "free" range. Certainly enough to be useful for me. In the case of a Tesla I'm sure it's more than enough to negate the continuous usage of sentry mode as well.

SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
I wonder if it'll provide enough power so that you can park and wait with AC or the stereo (admittedly two very different loads) running without worrying about it cutting into your range.
- bochoh 7y ago
  I think that would wholely depend on the setup for the AC compressor. If it's entirely electric and sized appropriately it can be a fairly efficient mechanism. A friend of mine uses the AC in their tesla to keep pastries cold from lunch to evening commute for < 10-20 miles of range depending on ambient temperatures. Meanwhile my gas SUV idles at .3 - .5 gallons per hour depending on engine load. (4 cylinder 2.0 liter, non-turbo).
  - SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
    They use their Tesla like a fridge for only 10-20 miles reduction????? That's amazing both in it's apparent wastefulness and efficiency. If that's the same scale, solar charging could easily keep your AC and stereo on while you wait.
    - bochoh 7y ago
      I believe they just set the cooling to around 64F to keep pastries from melting etc. First world problems for sure.
      - SketchySeaBeast 7y ago
        At least they aren't burning liquid dinosaur.
        zamfi 7y ago
        Ultimately depends on how they're charging their Tesla. Could be gasified or petrified dinosaur!