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The available roof area of a Skoda Octavia Estate - a common car in Europe - measures 2m x 1m which, given common 21% efficiency PV cells provides 420W at 1000
by the_third_wave 3y ago
The available roof area of a Skoda Octavia Estate - a common car in Europe - measures 2m x 1m which, given common 21% efficiency PV cells provides 420W at 1000 W/m² irradiance. This is considered a "medium sized" car. Add the hood and 600W is easily reached.
- mcculley 3y agoI have read Tesla owners reporting the AC consuming 1-3 kW. I still don't see how a roof of solar panels "goes a long way in offsetting the power consumed by the AC".
- the_third_wave 3y ago400W to 600W is 40% to 60% of that 1kW you mentioned, that is "a long way" as far as I'm concerned. An AC with a COP of 4.5 - a common rating - will be able to remove 1.8kW to 2.7kW of heating power from the vehicle using just solar power. Put it another way, a 20% efficient PV panel covering most of the vehicle combined with an AC with a COP of 5 should theoretically enable you to negate the total solar irradiance. Since the car is exposed to other heat sources - indirect irradiance, hot roads, hot outside air, warm people inside it - this is not enough to remove all excess heat from the vehicle but it should at least be able to offset direct irradiance.
- mcculley 3y agoI agree that if one assumes the most optimal theoretical possibilities, it would be great.