Tesla Motors Club
All this recent discussion around a refreshed or perhaps a Plaid Model S had me ponder the solar roof option. There has been discussion before, Tesla has considered it I'm sure, and the obvious conclusion was it was not worth the expense, or they preferred a sunroof instead, and then after sunroofs were optional, preferred a panoramic roof instead.
I recently discovered Hyundai has a solar roof on their sub-$30K Sonata Hybrid. Tesla's model S retails for over twice this. Both companies have a solar panel division therefore I think the cost of employing this "option" is comparable. Now honestly I have not been inside the Hyundai, and do not know what it looks like from the inside, but I assume it is a regular lined roof.
Of course the amount of energy retrieved from a small solar panel on the roof is pennies, but every little bit helps; range is king when it comes to electric vehicles. How many of you have had range anxiety and ran down to 5% battery travelling to a supercharger? I have.
Beyond the electrical/energy considerations I personally would consider this revision quite favourably; for me there would be a "cool" factor with a solar panel on the roof of my car, greater than any video game or Netflix. I'm not sure what possible revision with a refreshed model S would appeal to me more, a 120 kWh battery for sure, but that would bring at least another $5-7 k cost too. (Maybe more?) If I were in the market for a model S, and there was an option for a solar roof for $1000 I would definitely do it. And yes, Tesla would not offer roof choices, they prefer to keep things simple and have less options, but a vote for $1000 would imply interest that it is worth the additional price of manufacture.
Thought I would get others options/thoughts on this.
I recently discovered Hyundai has a solar roof on their sub-$30K Sonata Hybrid. Tesla's model S retails for over twice this. Both companies have a solar panel division therefore I think the cost of employing this "option" is comparable. Now honestly I have not been inside the Hyundai, and do not know what it looks like from the inside, but I assume it is a regular lined roof.
Of course the amount of energy retrieved from a small solar panel on the roof is pennies, but every little bit helps; range is king when it comes to electric vehicles. How many of you have had range anxiety and ran down to 5% battery travelling to a supercharger? I have.
Beyond the electrical/energy considerations I personally would consider this revision quite favourably; for me there would be a "cool" factor with a solar panel on the roof of my car, greater than any video game or Netflix. I'm not sure what possible revision with a refreshed model S would appeal to me more, a 120 kWh battery for sure, but that would bring at least another $5-7 k cost too. (Maybe more?) If I were in the market for a model S, and there was an option for a solar roof for $1000 I would definitely do it. And yes, Tesla would not offer roof choices, they prefer to keep things simple and have less options, but a vote for $1000 would imply interest that it is worth the additional price of manufacture.
Thought I would get others options/thoughts on this.