How likely is a solar tonneau for the CT?

[hemiarch]

Tesla or aftermarket, what needs to a happen for something like this to exist and how helpful would it be?

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[That Beast Mode]

I don't know why they didn't do something like this from the factory (besides the obvious cost), make each slat a solar panel. While it's not gonna charge much, it's better than nothing and would have improved overall stated range - even by a little bit. I guess then you wouldn't be able to have YouTubers walking on it though.

 

[hemiarch]

It’s all the rage

 

[YDR37]

Tesla actually has a patent on the "Integrated Tonneau Cover for a Vehicle” concept that was developed for the Cybertruck. The patent included the possibly of using solar cells for the slats:

When the tonneau cover is deployed to cover the bed and the solar electric cells that make up the slats are facing the sun, the battery within the electric vehicle can be charged by solar electric cells

Elon estimated that a solar power option for the CT could add "15 miles per day, possibly more". Of course, sometimes Elon's estimates are overly optimistic.

Obviously Tesla didn't follow through with the idea. Cost would have been high, benefits would have been limited.

 

[hemiarch]

Tesla actually has a patent on the "“Integrated Tonneau Cover for a Vehicle” concept that was developed for the Cybertruck. The patent included the possibly of using solar cells for the slats
Elon estimated that the solar option for the CT would add "15 miles per day, possibly more".

Obviously Tesla didn't follow through with the idea. Cost would have been high, benefits would have been limited.

All absolutely true. This is where a lot of my curiosity about this comes from. Given that they now are in the business of selling things like the Terrestrial armor package are they likely to offer this? Or perhaps one of the aftermarket companies would take on the mantle?

 

[YDR37]

So this guy built a solar tonneau cover for his F-150 Lightning. He says he gets "2+ kWh a day". So that seems realistic. Seems likely that he could get 3+ kWh if he put solar panels on the roof too.

This real-world 70 mph Cybertruck range test reported "a consumption rate of 2.51 miles per kilowatt-hour." So 2+ kWh would get you 5+ miles per day. Presumably more if you put panels on the roof, as well as the tonneau cover.

 

[hemiarch]

So this guy built a solar tonneau cover for his F-150 Lightning. He says he gets "2+ kWh a day".

This real-world 70 mph Cybertruck range test reported "a consumption rate of 2.51 miles per kilowatt-hour. " So 2+ kWh would get you 5+ miles per day.

I live in Arizona so would be on the high end of this no matter what, but the ability to park the car at the airport with sentry and cabin overheat protection on then come back from a trip to the exact same range would be worth a lot of money to me.
In Arizona that means I’d almost forever be safe from a completely dead car.
I have free supercharging, it’s not a cost issue for me, it’s an insurance policy against vampire drain.

 

[YDR37]

I live in Arizona so would be on the high end of this no matter what, but the ability to park the car at the airport with sentry and cabin overheat protection on then come back from a trip to the exact same range would be worth a lot of money to me.
In Arizona that means I’d almost forever be safe from a completely dead car.
I have free supercharging, it’s not a cost issue for me, it’s an insurance policy against vampire drain.

In theory, could use something like the forthcoming GoSun EV Solar Charger. In practice, don't know if it makes sense to leave $4,999 of solar panels sitting alone in the airport parking lot for days or weeks.

 

[TeslaKen]

Maybe you missed my Mr. Fusion installation article?

 

[CybertruckPilot]

Just nullifying vampire drain would make it worth it.
Airport parking, for example.

 

[mongo]

Just nullifying vampire drain would make it worth it.
Airport parking, for example.

The new low power mode is pretty effective at doing that.

 

[hemiarch]

The new low power mode is pretty effective at doing that.

While this is true, I’d still like to leave the car with 150 miles and come back in 10 days to one with 300. Also, 15 miles a day is about my commute. I’d love to cancel that out or come close and charge much less frequently. Not to mention camping out in the desert with the kids. If I run out of juice all I’d have to do is wait it out.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

I park in a garage and live in the third cloudiest city in America. I assume I would get maybe 50 miles of charge a year based on my environment, when I drive, and where I park. If the MSRP was the same adding the solar panels, sure why not. But even if this was a $500 option, it would take me longer than I've ever owned a vehicle to get a benefit.

As much as I love solar, having it on a vehicle isn't practical from a cost benefit perspective yet. There's a reason it is always a dropped feature, there is no bang for your buck.

 

[hemiarch]

I park in a garage and live in the third cloudiest city in America. I assume I would get maybe 50 miles of charge a year based on my environment, when I drive, and where I park. If the MSRP was the same adding the solar panels, sure why not. But even if this was a $500 option, it would take me longer than I've ever owned a vehicle to get a benefit.

As much as I love solar, having it on a vehicle isn't practical from a cost benefit perspective yet. There's a reason it is always a dropped feature, there is no bang for your buck.

Again..not a cost analysis for me. I have free supercharging. Just a desired feature. A glass roof and heated/cooled seats don’t pay back either.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

Again..not a cost analysis for me. Just a desired feature. A glass roof and heated/cooled seats don’t pay back either.

I can assign a qualitative value to having a warm ass and being able to see the stars. I can only apply a quantitative value to a solar tonneau.

If it is about creating clean energy, you're better off donating to a small business looking to install solar panels, that will be a better net gain toward zero emissions.

I'm pretty firmly in the no solar tonneau camp.

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