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The project is not meant to make it entirely solar powered but extend range as a hybrid and look to extend range by 5000 km/year. Initial findings has looked pr

by jug 3y ago

The project is not meant to make it entirely solar powered but extend range as a hybrid and look to extend range by 5000 km/year. Initial findings has looked promising and it’s taking to public roads now. This article quoted as source has a bit more technical details, batteries etc: https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/31/scania-tests-its-first-solar-powered-trucks-sees-the-technology-to-grow/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/08/31/scania-tests-its-first-...

wenc 3y ago
The article states that "the system’s maximum efficiency of 13.2 kWp (kilowatt peak) and ability to deliver 8,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually when operated in Sweden." Sweden's wholesale electricity prices is ~€32/MWh in July 2023, so this is equivalent to a savings of €256/truck/year. My initial impression is that the juice is not worth the squeeze, but wondering if someone with more context would provide arguments for solar roofs on vehicles. I know Hyundai (Ioniq 5) and Toyota (Prius) are also offering solar roof options on their cars, so there must be a good reason. The Prius, under ideal sunny conditions, can reasonably get to 1.1KWh/day (or 3.2mi of range), which is nothing to sneeze at, but still relatively small in the large scheme of things. https://www.motortrend.com/features/the-2023-toyota-prius-primes-battery-could-take-three-weeks-to-recharge/ https://www.motortrend.com/features/the-2023-toyota-prius-pr...
- Turskarama 3y ago
  My personal opinion is that solar panels on vehicles don't make any sense, and probably won't _ever_ make sense. There are two concept cars I know of that can actually get enough power from the solar panels on them to be useful. One of them is the Aptera, which is a no-compromise low energy vehicle. It's tear drop shaped and can only hold two people, so it's going to be a bit niche. The second is the Lightyear solar electric vehicle, which is shaped a bit more like a standard car but is going to cost luxury car money for an ultra lightweight (read: no soundproofing) car. And to what advantage? Charge per year doesn't matter, since you're recharging multiple times per year anyway there's no difference between the panels being on the car vs the ground, other than panels on the ground can be directed more optimally and don't add to the weight of the car. Charge per day matters, and taking a 500 mile trip up to maybe 600 miles (on a perfect sunny day) isn't that big an improvement in practical terms.
  - Kim_Bruning 3y ago
    Maybe don't quite say never: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Solar_Challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Solar_Challenge Meanwhile, for us mortals: There's something to be said for using solar panels to power aircon/heaters/utilities/etc while the car is stationary outdoors.
  - hulitu 3y ago
    > My personal opinion is that solar panels on vehicles don't make any sense, and probably won't _ever_ make sense. Ever been to Sweden. I read somewhere that the sun shines there for half a year, uninterrupted. /s
- rasz 3y ago
  The reasons are PR, marketing, subsidies. When you see solar panel mounted on a road/bike path/under train tracks/car/truck you should instantly recognize a scam.
appplication 3y ago
A quick google suggests the average truck driver drives 160-180km a year. This means that this provides an extra ~3% fuel efficiency for a lot of overhead and complexity. Trailer skirts save an estimated 4-8%. I’m not saying it’s an either/or because you can have both, but it does seem like this is potentially overly complex for minimal gains.
- punkybr3wster 3y ago
  Wouldn’t this be the same for regenerative brakes? The amount you get back is negligible in the grand scheme but they put them on every EV/Hybrid anyway. The individual may be minimal but the overall cumulative benefit may be worth it.

by jug 3y ago

wenc 3y ago

The article states that "the system’s maximum efficiency of 13.2 kWp (kilowatt peak) and ability to deliver 8,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually when operated in Sweden." Sweden's wholesale electricity prices is ~€32/MWh in July 2023, so this is equivalent to a savings of €256/truck/year. My initial impression is that the juice is not worth the squeeze, but wondering if someone with more context would provide arguments for solar roofs on vehicles. I know Hyundai (Ioniq 5) and Toyota (Prius) are also offering solar roof options on their cars, so there must be a good reason. The Prius, under ideal sunny conditions, can reasonably get to 1.1KWh/day (or 3.2mi of range), which is nothing to sneeze at, but still relatively small in the large scheme of things. https://www.motortrend.com/features/the-2023-toyota-prius-primes-battery-could-take-three-weeks-to-recharge/ https://www.motortrend.com/features/the-2023-toyota-prius-pr...

Turskarama 3y ago
My personal opinion is that solar panels on vehicles don't make any sense, and probably won't _ever_ make sense. There are two concept cars I know of that can actually get enough power from the solar panels on them to be useful. One of them is the Aptera, which is a no-compromise low energy vehicle. It's tear drop shaped and can only hold two people, so it's going to be a bit niche. The second is the Lightyear solar electric vehicle, which is shaped a bit more like a standard car but is going to cost luxury car money for an ultra lightweight (read: no soundproofing) car. And to what advantage? Charge per year doesn't matter, since you're recharging multiple times per year anyway there's no difference between the panels being on the car vs the ground, other than panels on the ground can be directed more optimally and don't add to the weight of the car. Charge per day matters, and taking a 500 mile trip up to maybe 600 miles (on a perfect sunny day) isn't that big an improvement in practical terms.
- Kim_Bruning 3y ago
  Maybe don't quite say never: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Solar_Challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Solar_Challenge Meanwhile, for us mortals: There's something to be said for using solar panels to power aircon/heaters/utilities/etc while the car is stationary outdoors.
- hulitu 3y ago
  > My personal opinion is that solar panels on vehicles don't make any sense, and probably won't _ever_ make sense. Ever been to Sweden. I read somewhere that the sun shines there for half a year, uninterrupted. /s
rasz 3y ago
The reasons are PR, marketing, subsidies. When you see solar panel mounted on a road/bike path/under train tracks/car/truck you should instantly recognize a scam.

appplication 3y ago

A quick google suggests the average truck driver drives 160-180km a year. This means that this provides an extra ~3% fuel efficiency for a lot of overhead and complexity. Trailer skirts save an estimated 4-8%. I’m not saying it’s an either/or because you can have both, but it does seem like this is potentially overly complex for minimal gains.

punkybr3wster 3y ago
Wouldn’t this be the same for regenerative brakes? The amount you get back is negligible in the grand scheme but they put them on every EV/Hybrid anyway. The individual may be minimal but the overall cumulative benefit may be worth it.