Solar panel that cover entire back half of the truck - any interest

[hemiarch]

Not to hijack Roger’s thread but let’s say for arguments sake we could get someone to make a panel which covers (with appropriate holes), the entire back half of the truck minus the tonneau cover.
so, the glass and top sail panels basically. Maybe the side sails where UP and mars put molle panels. Or even just the glass.
How many of you would be interested? A group buy may be a way to get this done if a lot of people are into it.
These guys appear to do that kind of thing.
https://mitosolar.com/

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[TexasRaider]

Not to hijack Roger’s thread but let’s say for arguments sake we could get someone to make a panel which covers (with appropriate holes), the entire back half of the truck minus the tonneau cover.
so, the glass and top sail panels basically. Maybe the side sails where UP and mars put molle panels. Or even just the glass.
How many of you would be interested? A group buy may be a way to get this done if a lot of people are into it.
These guys appear to do that kind of thing.
https://mitosolar.com/

I don’t believe it would be enough kWh to make it worth it.
I have a pre-order for the GoSun EV charger at $3k and it does charge the truck while parked. I’m almost going to cancel the preorder because the 8HR charge would only generate ~25miles any given sunny day. At that rate it would take about 3 years to recover the $3k in energy bills.

 

[resellpanda88]

Not to hijack Roger’s thread but let’s say for arguments sake we could get someone to make a panel which covers (with appropriate holes), the entire back half of the truck minus the tonneau cover.
so, the glass and top sail panels basically. Maybe the side sails where UP and mars put molle panels. Or even just the glass.
How many of you would be interested? A group buy may be a way to get this done if a lot of people are into it.
These guys appear to do that kind of thing.
https://mitosolar.com/

Like a solar panel wrap?

If I can wrap my vehicle with solar panels instead of ppf that would be interesting.

 

[cadamo001]

Not to hijack Roger’s thread but let’s say for arguments sake we could get someone to make a panel which covers (with appropriate holes), the entire back half of the truck minus the tonneau cover.
so, the glass and top sail panels basically. Maybe the side sails where UP and mars put molle panels. Or even just the glass.
How many of you would be interested? A group buy may be a way to get this done if a lot of people are into it.
These guys appear to do that kind of thing.
https://mitosolar.com/

Maybe. But will probably be too expensive for me to be interested...

 

[hemiarch]

It’s not a question of fiscally “worth it” to me. It’s more a question of adding a self extrication method for a dead car in remote environments, reduction of range anxiety while camping and overcoming drain both from camping needs and car needs so I can extend my time off grid

Like a solar panel wrap?

If I can wrap my vehicle with solar panels instead of ppf that would be interesting.

Yes. But less extreme than this and without giving up the entire bed

 

[BrockN]

It’s not a question of fiscally “worth it” to me. It’s more a question of adding a self extrication method for a dead car in remote environments, reduction of range anxiety while camping and overcoming drain both from camping needs and car needs so I can extend my time off grid

This.

However I don't think this type of panel would survive the winter road bullets where I live, so is a non-starter for me. But a system that could provide power for camping off grid and even charge a device that could in turn charge the vehicle would be valuable. That's not a technical challenge - solutions already exist.

The nut that needs to be cracked is how and where to mount the panels. On a roof rack system? Sure, but that conflicts with a rooftops tent. Every location is a comprise. I'm watching and hoping that someone invents the ideal mousetrap.

 

[hemiarch]

This.

However I don't think this type of panel would survive the winter road bullets where I live, so is a non-starter for me. But a system that could provide power for camping off grid and even charge a device that could in turn charge the vehicle would be valuable. That's not a technical challenge - solutions already exist.

The nut that needs to be cracked is how and where to mount the panels. On a roof rack system? Sure, but that conflicts with a rooftops tent. Every location is a comprise. I'm watching and hoping that someone invents the ideal mousetrap.

I think over the frunk, glass and probably side sails where UP puts Molle panels would do it.
have no idea about durability of these things. Very important question.

 

[hemiarch]

I don’t believe it would be enough kWh to make it worth it.
I have a reorder for the GoSun EV charger at $3k and it does charge the truck while parked. I’m almost going to cancel the preorder because the 8HR charge would only generate ~25miles any given sunny day. At that rate it would take about 3 years to recover the $3k in energy bills.

I agree. I would never do this on our model x . The CT is an adventure vehicle though so the benefit is not in dollars and cents. It’s in usability for off grid existence

 

[hemiarch]

Maybe. But will probably be too expensive for me to be interested...

We don’t know that yet.

 

[EWELON]

Not to hijack Roger’s thread but let’s say for arguments sake we could get someone to make a panel which covers (with appropriate holes), the entire back half of the truck minus the tonneau cover.
so, the glass and top sail panels basically. Maybe the side sails where UP and mars put molle panels. Or even just the glass.
How many of you would be interested? A group buy may be a way to get this done if a lot of people are into it.
These guys appear to do that kind of thing.
https://mitosolar.com/

or Panels on a RTT? Would be sweet if the panels could trickle charge the car!

 

[hemiarch]

or Panels on a RTT? Would be sweet if the panels could trickle charge the car!

Yes. A rack and rooftop tent have an energy cost though no matter how our dear sponsor friends spin it. May not be that much but neither is the solar energy generated. Trade off.
I guess if you have a rack anyway, works just as well.

 

[btcrealm]

If someone's ever interested in installing solar panels for charging vehicle purpose, this is the only effective way: https://www.dartsolar.com/

This concept is what would need to be done with any remote charging. There are a lot of 240V 'gasless generators' that could be used for this.
The problem with the CT is the battery is soo big the amount of solar panels it would take to do any decent charge would be insane.

(not that I've done any thinking about it.... LoL)

 

[Outdoors]

A rack and rooftop tent have an energy cost though no matter how our dear sponsor friends spin it.

Where is the spin? Some are questioning why there always has to be a payback on an item that wasn't designed to be such an item in the first place? It's called convenience, and pretty much sure it says in all caps. Not designed to charge the truck. I also don't see anything that says hey if you use this it will pay for itself in no time.

 

[hemiarch]

Where is the spin? Some are questioning why there always has to be a payback on an item that wasn't designed to be such an item in the first place? It's called convenience, and pretty much sure it says in all caps. Not designed to charge the truck. I also don't see anything that says hey if you use this it will pay for itself in no time.

Fair. Statement retracted. I was ambiguous. They are VERY forthcoming about what they say this solar panel will and will not do. Resoect.
What I was getting at is that it serves commercial interests to advertise things as aerodynamically nonimpactful. Camping racks in particular. And that’s ok. Many of these products are awesome and worth the impact but they are far from energetically free.

 

[Cybergirl]

This.

However I don't think this type of panel would survive the winter road bullets where I live, so is a non-starter for me. But a system that could provide power for camping off grid and even charge a device that could in turn charge the vehicle would be valuable. That's not a technical challenge - solutions already exist.

The nut that needs to be cracked is how and where to mount the panels. On a roof rack system? Sure, but that conflicts with a rooftops tent. Every location is a comprise. I'm watching and hoping that someone invents the ideal mousetrap.

I installed a 420W solar panel, charge controller, battery and inverter to supply 12/24Vdc and 120Vac power for off grid camping/over-landing. The system has two 100Ah 12V LFP batteries wired in series (2.4kWh), a 20A Renogy Rover charge controller and a 1000W pure sinewave inverter capable of charging the truck using the mobile connector. The panel is mounted to the rooftop tent with a crossbar kit. The total cost of materials came to under $1k, not counting the tent and crossbar kit.

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