Aptera-style solar panels in SUV option.

[sodamo]

I could see a solar panel bed cover for the slate. Could allow for under mount of the required electronics and a properly routed wiring. Could also have gain access to the same port utilized when converting the truck to suv. Just a thought. But I do see the desire for topping off using only solar. Especially for those who don’t drive often or those who really stretch their range.

Apparently Aptera has the piece that goes between the PV and vehicle electrical system. Licensed to Telo, hope they do a Slate version.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

the electronics is not really hard, just that DIY-ers (like me) dont really go for the 400v battery systems like you find in an EV. So not much out there to handle that kind of voltage.

Personally I am happy up to about 72v systems, done several golfcarts this way, works really well. But range is 10 - 20 miles, max. They do go pretty well tho, on smooth pavement.

Remember, we are not talking about fast-charge here, Even if you cram solar on every surface you can find you'll only get about a kilowatt. Now, let it toast at a kW all day in the parking lot, while your at work, good for the ride home!

Solar isnt free, sunlight is tricky, fussy, sometimes complicated, lots of up-front cost.
But when you stop at the gas station for coffee, and NO GAS, its a kick.

 

[sodamo]

I guess the trick might be charging while driving?
my thinking is at minimum solar charge the 12vdc component that powers ancillary stuff.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

I guess the trick might be charging while driving?
my thinking is at minimum solar charge the 12vdc component that powers ancillary stuff.

I dont think so.
My take-away, from playing with all sorts of solar stuff, for several years now, is that charging and load are separate. As long as you have good batteries.

Now, Panels will be putting in about 1Kw at best,
motor will take out 8 - 10kw, just rambling down a country road.

3 times that on the freeway.

So? batteries carry the difference.
Rule of thumb: park 10 times more than you drive.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

If my Slate was covered in PV panels, I would be freaking out. Big time!

I live in the USA.
People here are too careless with shopping carts, how they drive, open car doors in tight space, and toss trash out the window while driving.
Then there's all the random rocks that get kicked up on the highway.

It's bad enough that my paint gets chipped and windshield is cracked, but with those expensive EV panels now catching all that abuse.... No thanks!
I would be too paranoid to drive anywhere.

One correction here, its not the PV panels that are expensive, its the battery.
You bought an EV? you just buried a lot of $$ in that battery, for several years.

And the panels are on the ROOF, whats going to nail them up there on top of your monster SUV?

I have a BUNCH of panels, with serious hail damage, reclaimed from some folks roof.
They still work.
Not great, but better than 50%,
So 50% output, no cost? only limiting factor is space, and I live in a swamp, only critters I need to argue with are alligators, they like the shade!

To mis-quote a prior president (a mis-quote I think he would have approved of )
"read my lips, its the battery . . . "

He liked alternative energy, it just came after his time.

 

[Desertdog]

Just kinda poking through this thread, lots of good points. Just thought I'd share what 4 rigid Renogy solar panels looks like on my Tacoma...for different reasons obviously as Im a huge outdoorsman and sometimes spend weeks out in the desert hours from anything so being self sufficient in an unforgiving environment is critical. You can see of the 400watt panels Im currently bringing in 281 watts to my Bluetti power station. Might be a little better if I cleaned the panels 🙃

 

[Paul Rodgers]

YES!
but that light bar will take all the sun can hand it!

I also drive a Tacoma, maybe I should get one?

 

[sodamo]

Very limited EV knowledge. In fact, most of it picked up from end of April.
I do have a bit solar experience having been off grid (of necessity) since 2005 with 12, 24, 48 volt systems that I built from scratch or heavily modified. Now my current 48 volt DC, 240vac system can accept DC charging simultaneously from multiple sources. - 4 PV powered charge controllers, 1 propane generator driving 4 transformers, 1 gas generator driving 2 transformers, although typically I only use 1 generator at a time. 10 sources? These charge 15 LiFePo, 3.8kw batteries, nominal voltage around 52vdc. Now as for load, the inverters normally run just from the batteries, but I can bypass and run from generators and there are various settings for other combinations I don’t mess with. It is this type of interface that I think is needed for the EV that Aptera has.
What might be nice in my case is my long trip is basically 6 hours, 2 going, 2 parked, 2 returning. That 6 hours might be enough to get by the standard battery range. P, the 2 hours parked, not likely.
Who knows what improvements will surface next 12-18 months.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

Humph, not such a newbie lad, you have been at this longer than I.

Evs are not really very much different than home solar setups just a few points
1,) much higher power, i.e amps. That's why they like high voltage. Typical home system is under 200 Amp, less than 200 volts.
Typical ev system is 400 volts an up. With 400 amps or more

2) faster charging. Higher charge rate, really whacks the batteries

3) closed systems. You have absolutely no idea what happens under the hood. No matter what the docs. Or the infotainment system say.

BUT

Someone might take a different Crack at it, that's why I keep watching

 

[sodamo]

As discussed in elsewhere the BluettiAC 300 might be a viable option. Was temptedto take advantage of the current sale, but it doesn’t ship to Hawaii. Another case of laziness/ignorance apparently.

 

[cvollers]

the electronics is not really hard, just that DIY-ers (like me) dont really go for the 400v battery systems like you find in an EV. So not much out there to handle that kind of voltage.

Personally I am happy up to about 72v systems, done several golfcarts this way, works really well. But range is 10 - 20 miles, max. They do go pretty well tho, on smooth pavement.

Remember, we are not talking about fast-charge here, Even if you cram solar on every surface you can find you'll only get about a kilowatt. Now, let it toast at a kW all day in the parking lot, while your at work, good for the ride home!

Solar isnt free, sunlight is tricky, fussy, sometimes complicated, lots of up-front cost.
But when you stop at the gas station for coffee, and NO GAS, its a kick.

I think you have better gas stations than we have here…

 

[B1050]

I'd rather set up a solar array at my house and charge when my truck was parked at home. The number of panels and total wattage would be almost limitless if your panels are stationary and angled to the south.

 

[sodamo]

I'd rather set up a solar array at my house and charge when my truck was parked at home. The number of panels and total wattage would be almost limitless if your panels are stationary and angled to the south.

If you are aware of a home based, solar array only system please share. I definitely want one.

Almost limitless might be overkill. What number of panels and total wattage would you consider appropriate for charging Slate standard battery, extended battery?

 

[Paul Rodgers]

In most cases the slate will not be parked at home during the middle of the day. So a home system cannot charge it.
You'll need batteries, a LOT of them, and thats the bulk of the soar expense.
You are limited by the amount of exposure you have, especially to south and west.

A carport, 25ft long, 12ft wide is about 300 sq ft, realistically that'll give you 3-4 kW for about 6 hours/day, so half-a-packs worth of charge, less in bad weather or in the north.

Bottom line: you'll need a 2-car garage, and another battery pack same size as the one in your slate to get a real-world home charging system that can support 100+ miles range.

Me? I'll go small, look for 20-30 miles/day at most

 

[sodamo]

The title of this thread being Aptera has me hopeful of an Aptera like solution, which I assume entails no additional battery other than the EV.
Of course Paul is correct in detailing that a home system is more complex and definitely more expensive than simple PV array. I have a robust home system detailed elsewhere on the forum.
My hope, with B1050 making reference solely to array that he was aware of an Aptera type charging not requiring batteries. still hopeful for his response.
I am one on those fortunate ones able to charge during sunlight, hopefully using excess PV production. My goal is to not tax my battery system especially with night charging. Guessing my normal replenishment charge to be 20-25kwh. My normal house load is around 35kwh/day so a significant increase.
A query to Bluetti said I could divert 4kw of my PV to charge their AC300 with an adapter. That would allow me to bypass my batteries/inverters. A possibility.

Please enlighten us B1050 - PLEASE