Aptera-style solar panels in SUV option.

[cvollers]

Hi: It would seem impractical to think you might be able to "hard-wire" the DC solar output from a solar panel into the DC charging system of an EV. Perhaps someone could figure it out, but I suspect it is not simple. And might void your warranty.

Your idea of getting 12 Volt power is probably valid. As you can, fairly simply, apply the DC output of a small solar panel directly into the 12volt battery, with probably needed a charge controller to keep from over-charging (and cooking) the 12 volt battery.

But it would be nice if you could "collect" solar DC power to be used later.

I am wondering if a LFP home battery storage unit might be the reasonable intermediate between solar panels and the EV charger.
You can look in Amazon and find any number of "solar generators", with or without included solar panels. Jackery, Bluettie, etc. Link below.

Once you have charged up your "home generator" (LFP battery) then you can use the 120 volt AC output from the generator to power up your EV charger (EVSE or Mobile Connector).

Happy to hear other ideas. Thanks for keeping the discussion going.


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solar+generators+for+home+use&crid=Z3ST2YT8S6CT&sprefix=Solar+generator,aps,128&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_5_15

Interesting. I think you would need a fairly large generator (I call them power stations and have owned two, still own one) to charge the 50-85kWh EV battery. It will get depleted pretty fast especially since their internal inverters deplete their LFP batteries faster than DC loads will.

 

[Letas]

Slate uses NMC, not lithium.

NMC is lithium…

 

[cvollers]

NMC is lithium…

I stand corrected. NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO₂)

 

[Letas]

I stand corrected. NMC = Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO₂)

The nomenclature is goofy. Lithium batteries also can refer to primaries (non rechargeable). Lithium-ion is the “proper” term for rechargeable EV batteries, but often gets substituted.
NMC/LFP is referring to the cathode material.

 

[cvollers]

The nomenclature is goofy. Lithium batteries also can refer to primaries (non rechargeable). Lithium-ion is the “proper” term for rechargeable EV batteries, but often gets substituted.
NMC/LFP is referring to the cathode material.

I’m intrigued by the new Sodium-Ion battery tech and hopeful that it will reduce our dependency on lithium.

 

[zipn]

I think it’s not worth the money. Maybe you’ll get 1 or 2 kw max under ideally sunny noon time conditions, and even then the car will be lucky to go 1 mile on 4kWh, so at best, you might gain 1 mile every 2 hours, not counting all the inefficiencies in the electronics. Many Fixed solar panels on a garage roof and temporary storage battery is I think a better way to go.

 

[sodamo]

I think it’s not worth the money. Maybe you’ll get 1 or 2 kw max under ideally sunny noon time conditions, and even then the car will be lucky to go 1 mile on 4kWh, so at best, you might gain 1 mile every 2 hours, not counting all the inefficiencies in the electronics. Many Fixed solar panels on a garage roof and temporary storage battery is I think a better way to go.

Currently have 64 PV, 18.4kw so likely enough for home charging. I do hope that over the next year or so a cost effect DC to DC method becomes available so I can bypass my LiFePo batteries (57 kwh). Living totally off grid, the charging thing has been my greatest concern re EV.

While the concept of solar generator is intriguing, i don’t see as cost effective at this time. Who knows what the future will bring.

 

[UncleMatt]

Interesting. I think you would need a fairly large generator (I call them power stations and have owned two, still own one) to charge the 50-85kWh EV battery. It will get depleted pretty fast especially since their internal inverters deplete their LFP batteries faster than DC loads will.

General comment about solar power to augment charging of a high-voltage EV.

Relative to the amount of power an EV needs, solar panels will provide only a trickle. Roof-top solar panels are not actually a rational choice. More of a feel-good choice. Panels the size of a vehicle roof are unlikely to provide more than 100 watts, in the most optimal situation.
But if your are determined to have solar panels of this small size, you will not be able to wire them up to charge the main EV high-voltage battery. (in my opinion. please prove me wrong)

So, if you are generating solar power, and want to store it for a while, a lithium battery or "solar power supply" is a reasonable choice.
If you chose to use that "solar generator" power to manually charge your EV, it will be painfully slow. And would be a rational choice only in an emergency. (By "Manually", I mean plug in an EVSE to the portable battery at 120 volts and use your portable EV-charger to send power to the fender charge port on the EV, at maybe a one kW charge rate.). [One KW charge rate equates to 3-4 miles of range per hour of charge time. ]

I am not encouraging anyone to consider solar panels on top of a vehicle. Aptera is a unique situation, and the aptera solar solution seems unlikely to be a viable option for any other currently-available EV, in my opinion.
Yet some will try it, and I hope they share their experience on youtube.
I would be happy to be proven wrong. (I do confess that it would be cool to have solar panels on my EV, regardless of the practicalities. Just to thumb my nose at the ICE crowd.)

But if you do try something along these lines, please be forthcoming with what it costs, and how much range you can gather, and how much of the day you have to park the vehicle in the sun.

 

[sodamo]

General comment about solar power to augment charging of a high-voltage EV.

Relative to the amount of power an EV needs, solar panels will provide only a trickle. Roof-top solar panels are not actually a rational choice. More of a feel-good choice. Panels the size of a vehicle roof are unlikely to provide more than 100 watts, in the most optimal situation.
But if your are determined to have solar panels of this small size, you will not be able to wire them up to charge the main EV high-voltage battery. (in my opinion. please prove me wrong)

So, if you are generating solar power, and want to store it for a while, a lithium battery or "solar power supply" is a reasonable choice.
If you chose to use that "solar generator" power to manually charge your EV, it will be painfully slow. And would be a rational choice only in an emergency. (By "Manually", I mean plug in an EVSE to the portable battery at 120 volts and use your portable EV-charger to send power to the fender charge port on the EV, at maybe a one kW charge rate.). [One KW charge rate equates to 3-4 miles of range per hour of charge time. ]

I am not encouraging anyone to consider solar panels on top of a vehicle. Aptera is a unique situation, and the aptera solar solution seems unlikely to be a viable option for any other currently-available EV, in my opinion.
Yet some will try it, and I hope they share their experience on youtube.
I would be happy to be proven wrong. (I do confess that it would be cool to have solar panels on my EV, regardless of the practicalities. Just to thumb my nose at the ICE crowd.)

But if you do try something along these lines, please be forthcoming with what it costs, and how much range you can gather, and how much of the day you have to park the vehicle in the sun.

I’m going to agree and disagree.
Inefficient, small gain, yes.
100watts, no, especially the SuV or Van style.
Aptera unique, yes but they are licensing the tech, very hopeful the piece that makes it work will be available for the Slate. Telo apparently has a license.
3-4 miles/hr, not great but maybe enough. In my case Costco round trip is 160 miles. 2 hours drive over, 2 hours there just might be what I need to make it home. I’m not knowledgeable enough to ascertain benefits of the regenerative braking, but hopeful.
I’m also interested in how much main battery can I save if my 12 volt system is augmented to reduce that use.
So yes, my intentions to incorporate and I definitely will share.

On a slightly related note, I’m hoping to tap directly into my excess PV output at home, completely bypassing my batteries and inverter. I’m hoping that the capability to use truck roof mounted PV also gives this capability.

 

[Whitesands]

The one thing I would like a solar panel for in an EV would be to power the Battery temperature management system to optimize battery health and longevity in sunny hot areas.

 

[cvollers]

General comment about solar power to augment charging of a high-voltage EV.

Relative to the amount of power an EV needs, solar panels will provide only a trickle. Roof-top solar panels are not actually a rational choice. More of a feel-good choice. Panels the size of a vehicle roof are unlikely to provide more than 100 watts, in the most optimal situation.
But if your are determined to have solar panels of this small size, you will not be able to wire them up to charge the main EV high-voltage battery. (in my opinion. please prove me wrong)

So, if you are generating solar power, and want to store it for a while, a lithium battery or "solar power supply" is a reasonable choice.
If you chose to use that "solar generator" power to manually charge your EV, it will be painfully slow. And would be a rational choice only in an emergency. (By "Manually", I mean plug in an EVSE to the portable battery at 120 volts and use your portable EV-charger to send power to the fender charge port on the EV, at maybe a one kW charge rate.). [One KW charge rate equates to 3-4 miles of range per hour of charge time. ]

I am not encouraging anyone to consider solar panels on top of a vehicle. Aptera is a unique situation, and the aptera solar solution seems unlikely to be a viable option for any other currently-available EV, in my opinion.
Yet some will try it, and I hope they share their experience on youtube.
I would be happy to be proven wrong. (I do confess that it would be cool to have solar panels on my EV, regardless of the practicalities. Just to thumb my nose at the ICE crowd.)

But if you do try something along these lines, please be forthcoming with what it costs, and how much range you can gather, and how much of the day you have to park the vehicle in the sun.

I have full sun today beating down on my two 100w BougeRV solar panels on top of my FJ’s RTT. They are charging my Anker power station (LFP) at 150w. I would never consider using that Anker (or any other power station) to charge an EV. I won’t even connect my dual power fridge to the Anker’s AC output…not because it lacks power but because the inverter will suck the battery dry in very little time, even with the fridge compressor not running.

 

[Swinefuzz]

If you took that tiny solar panel off your calculator and put it on a personal computer, it would not run that personal computer. Not even close.

There's the GoSun contraption. It's $5K and you bury your car with it everyday and it's copious panels only capture about 10-12 miles worth of power. The GoSun's MAXIMUM output in driving miles is 20 if all the panels are facing DIRECTLY AT THE SUN for 8 hrs. You would have to run outside every hour and adjust their angle to make them useful. All day. Everyday.

It takes a LOT of solar panels to charge up an EV car. If you covered the Slate's entire hood and roof with solar panels, they might get you 3 or 4 miles/day.

No, I didn't do any math.
My commute is ~35 miles/day, round trip inc. errands. How many Aptera-style panels would a Slate require to accomplish that? How many GoSun's would I need to install on my Slate and continuously re-angle throughout the day to power my commute? How many years would it take for said Aptera or GoSun panels to produce enough power for them to even pay for themselves? Would my Slate Truck even last that long?

 

[Sparkie]

If you took that tiny solar panel off your calculator and put it on a personal computer, it would not run that personal computer. Not even close.

There's the GoSun contraption. It's $5K and you bury your car with it everyday and it's copious panels only capture about 10-12 miles worth of power. The GoSun's MAXIMUM output in driving miles is 20 if all the panels are facing DIRECTLY AT THE SUN for 8 hrs. You would have to run outside every hour and adjust their angle to make them useful. All day. Everyday.

It takes a LOT of solar panels to charge up an EV car. If you covered the Slate's entire hood and roof with solar panels, they might get you 3 or 4 miles/day.

No, I didn't do any math.
My commute is ~35 miles/day, round trip inc. errands. How many Aptera-style panels would a Slate require to accomplish that? How many GoSun's would I need to install on my Slate and continuously re-angle throughout the day to power my commute? How many years would it take for said Aptera or GoSun panels to produce enough power for them to even pay for themselves? Would my Slate Truck even last that long?

I agree.
Decades ago, I went through the math. I'm not against solar panels, but they are not the "power plants" that people think (or wish) they are -- especially at more northern latitudes.

 

[cadblu]

Fisker tried this over 3 years ago on the Ocean. To be any way effective, the plane of the vehicle’s roof needs to be at the perfect angle to the sun all day long, which is pretty much impossible. While most considered this a novel idea, it proved to be more gimmick than function. Sadly both Fisker and the Ocean are no more.

 

[sodamo]

I agree.
Decades ago, I went through the math. I'm not against solar panels, but they are not the "power plants" that people think (or wish) they are -- especially at more northern latitudes.

True, but then my memory kicks in. When I built our house in 2006, PV panels were over $700 for 125 watts. Batteries were maintenance intensive lead acid, the charge controllers and inverters were functional but dumb. My last upgrade PV were less than $1/watt, my LiFePO batteries I just look at and appreciate. i can monitor and configure all my gear from my iphone. My point being this is an evolving technology and I for one wouldn’t try to guess what will be in 18 months. but I can be hopefull.