Lightyear One - prototype solar roof for Model 3

[Perscitus]

Lightyear (Home) recently unveiled a test mule vehicle called 'Lightyear One'.
First thing first - before we all get excited - ETA for this to hit production is at least 2-3 years.

At its core, is a EDM-spec Model 3, equipped with 54 sq ft of solar panels in place of the center glass roof panel (and I assume a bit beyond, given the sq footage). The PV panels acquire solar energy and are able to recharge the OE battery pack. Stock recharging via the charge port still works.

The relatively fast solar panel charging system can (on a sunny day) supposedly replenish the batteries with up to 12 km (7.5 miles ) / hour worth of range. This translates to 45-60 miles gained if parked for say 6-8 hours at work or school - not to shabby! What's even better, the system is setup in such as way so as to allow driving the HVEC system for summer cooling and/or winter heating and powering the infotainment system.

Company representatives also boast that during the first year of testing, the prototype Model 3 has thus far driven just over 12.5K miles exclusively on solar energy.

All of this is in sharp contrast to the TeslaTap article below (last updated in Oct-2019) that is specific to the Model S but the estimates mentioned there still hold for the Model 3, assuming certain PV panel efficiency. Not sure how to reconcile the two. Hope above is not fake marketing news:
Solar Vehicle Roof Analysis | TeslaTap

 

[jrweiss98020]

54 sq ft is 6x9 ft. There is nowhere near that much area on the center roof panel (more like 12 sq ft, with 10 more available on the upper portion of the back panel). A typical solar panel gets about 18 Watts/sq ft, so the max available output would be 400 Watts or 0.4 KW. That would give about 1 mile/hour of range.

The 54 sq ft figure likely includes PV panels on the entire roof, frunk, and trunk lid. That would still yield less than 1 KW, or around 4 miles/hour range increase at max output.

 

[Perscitus]

Yes, hence my specticism and comments in brackets as well as the Model S article Iinked to in the first post.

Perhaps these people have the newest PV panels (infra and uv absorption) or other magic juju juice to get to 2KW from the roof alone.

Its unclear what the outline on the roof of the car indicates, if not the obvious. Perhaps we have someone on here local to the Netherlands who can stop by and talk to these people.