{"id":2269,"date":"2022-03-22T19:35:34","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T19:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seanvwork.com\/blog\/?p=2269"},"modified":"2022-04-20T21:05:52","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T21:05:52","slug":"why-not-put-solar-panels-on-top-of-cars-or-make-cars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seanvwork.com\/blog\/why-not-put-solar-panels-on-top-of-cars-or-make-cars\/","title":{"rendered":"Why not put solar panels on top of cars?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A while back I did a calculation to see how long it’d take to charge an electric car with solar panels. The answer I came up with was something like 5 – 7 days. Bummer.<\/p>\n

But then I started thinking about this again, but from a different angle. What if cars just collected solar energy all day. Is it worth it?<\/p>\n

Most cars around here just sit in the sun ALL DAY. Might as well be collecting energy right?<\/p>\n

Let’s say you can put two solar panels on top of a car that are 500 watt panels. So under ideal conditions you’re collecting 1,000 watts for say 8 hours. That’s 8,000 watt-hours. For a whole year, that’s 2,920 kwhs.<\/p>\n

The average electric car uses 30kwh to travel 100 miles. However, the average U.S. commute is 40 miles a day. But let’s just round way up and say it’s 100 miles a day. That means the average US electric car driver’s yearly energy needs is 10,950 kwh a year.<\/p>\n

So that means but putting solar panels on cars, you’re collecting 25% of your car’s energy needs while parked. That’s worth it. <\/p>\n

Note: I’m doing this post real quick on my lunch break. Please leave a comment if I’m way off!<\/em><\/p>\n

Solar Collecting Truck Concept<\/h2>\n

I had this idea for a small pick up concept. Solar panels are integrated into the hood and roof. There’s a built in “camper shell” over the truck bed. The camper shell has panels that can extend out to collect more sunlight. Hopefully with all this new thin-film panel technology this type of set up would be lightweight and easily doable. <\/p>\n

\"SOL<\/p>\n

Again, the purpose of a truck design like this is not to power the car during driving, but to collect as much solar energy as possible during all sunlit hours of the day. <\/p>\n

Matt Ferrell did a good video going over this concept and some companies are trying it. But I didn’t see any companies going with my route :).<\/p>\n