2 ms·
Top surface area of a semi trailer is around 42 square meters, given a trailer width of 102" and length of 53'. It's typical to get around 250W per square meter
by dreamcompiler 3y ago
Top surface area of a semi trailer is around 42 square meters, given a trailer width of 102" and length of 53'. It's typical to get around 250W per square meter from PV in ideal conditions, so that's 10.5kW. It takes about 15kW to push a Tesla down the highway at 60mph, so 10.5kW is not a negligible amount. (Pushing a semi down the highway at 60mph takes a lot more because it's much heavier and has a much larger frontal area.)
So this is definitely not enough to power the vehicle going down the road, but it is enough to add significantly to its range. Again, assuming the truck is driving down the road at high noon during the summer and there are no clouds.
PV doesn't work for cars because they don't have enough surface area, but it is a reasonable idea for a semi trailer.
- bradfa 3y agoTrailers are also often parked for a while so could be a viable recharge scenario for the trailer batteries.
- m4rtink 3y agoIt could also cover other energy uses on the trailer, such as refrigeration, ventilation or position reporting/telemetry.
- pinkgolem 3y agoPepsi sites 1.7 kWh per mile on short distance delivery with the Tesla semi That would mean a power use of around a 100kwh while driving 60 mph. That would extend the range by about 10% that's less then I would have expected, but still could make sense depending on the standing time.
- dreamcompiler 3y ago100kw, not 100kwh. But I take your meaning, and your factor of 6.7 for the amount of power/energy a semi uses vs a Tesla sounds reasonable.