Do you want Tesla to offer Solar Roof option on their cars?

[MontyFloyd]

Do you want Tesla to offer Solar Roof option on their cars?
After all, skip the middleman and go direct from sun to moving.

HUGE caveat: the amount of energy gained is tiny compared to what a EV uses to move, its usefulness will be very minimal.
On the flip side, the Solar energy collected will compensate for energy used for cooling.

The big question is the added cost to add PV to the glass roof, perhaps $2000~3000 more?

The Poll can see who votes, no limit to vote period.

Recommend watch this video first.

 

[Cosmacelf]

It adds complexity and is pretty useless. Might add 1 mile per hour of full Sun charging. So like 8 miles of charge per day. Not worth it.

 

[el-guapin]

Really not needed.

 

[Big Dog]

solar wafers aren't designed to be mobile. One more thing to break.

 

[MontyFloyd]

solar wafers aren't designed to be mobile. One more thing to break.

And yet solar wafers withstand 3 G of acceleration and high frequency vibration as they are launched on rockets.
They are also mounted and successfully used on BEV aircraft prototypes.
Weak argument.

 

[mswlogo]

I think the area is so small it’s not worth it.

 

[JohnSnowNW]

No, it's entirely pointless for the vast majority of people.

 

[Big Earl]

Money would be better spent putting solar on the roof of a house or garage.

 

[Cosmacelf]

Money would be better spent putting solar on the roof of a house or garage.

Exactly. Put solar on a house and it is an investment that returns $$. Put it on a car and it is an expensive gimmick that costs $$.

 

[BeeGood]

I enjoy the fact that the kids can see the stars when we drive rural roads way more than I’d enjoy the couple miles of added range.

 

[MontyFloyd]

I think the area is so small it’s not worth it.

For driving, yes, too small a gain.
For maintaining cabin temp and support systems (like sentry mode), then could ben enough, reduce or eliminate the battery drain.

 

[Graham J]

I'd rather have a powered shade like some others have. That would also reduce cooling energy expenditure but not take away my lovely glass roof.

 

[Falcon73]

I want this for a couple reasons.

In usually sunny SoCal, it will add up over time.

I use a shade with panoramic roofs to reduce the heat inside even further.

We have solar on our house and there's a gap between the panels and the roof so it acts like a shade. I'm guessing a direct mount doesn't have this benefit?

 

[dipper]

Elon has to sell his solar panels to someone, right? Not like he is putting them on roofs much anyways.

 

[MontyFloyd]

At the extreme end, it is possible to make a car that can be fully charged on solar alone, possible to never need plugging in, especially in west states.

Aptera Motors

Aptera is the world’s first Solar Electric Vehicle that requires no charging for most daily use - giving you the freedom to do more with less impact on the planet.

aptera.us

 

[MontyFloyd]

A remainder, if not aware.

Not moving or anything, a Tesla consumes a bunch of watts. If sentry is on, or it gets too cold (can have sun on freezing days) the consumption is more.
A PV roof will compensate, perhaps even recoup, all the idle losses.

 

[positiv]

I'd option it if I could. It could eliminate battery drain.

 

[MontyFloyd]

Here is ANOTHER car that claims to be able to be charged only by sun, and is about size of Model 3

Long Range Solar Electric Vehicle — Lightyear 0

Discover Lightyear 0. Charge less and drive 725 km with energy-efficient technology (only 83 wh/km). Find interior and exterior photos and learn about the specifications and details of Lightyear 0.

lightyear.one

5m2 solar cells and most efficient inverters​

This is interesting, motors in the hub

Model 3 is over 5 year old design, and is largely based on a 12 year old design, Tesla must be working on a new design (too soon for the low cost version, have too much backlog of current models)

 

[jboy210]

What will the insurance cost be like when the insurance companies see these panels get trashed by following a leaky gravel truck?

 

[olehvgrn]

Maybe, depends