Solar panels and battery to get unlimited range ...

[HaulingAss]

Because you’re not going to get 24 miles a day… duh!

That's why I said it was a lot! You would need 9.25 kWh per day (in a Cybertruck). Accounting for charging and other losses, you would need to produce 10-11 kWh. Which under good solar conditions would require 2-3 kW worth of panels that were well placed.

The Cybertruck definitely has more than enough space and capacity to achieve that with plenty of room left over for normal boondocking camping gear. Portable solar panels have come a long way in the last decade in terms of becoming thinner, lighter and more efficient. It's really just a matter of how much money you want to spend, and how many panels you are willing to manage.

For anyone who has experience charging an EV directly from the sun using portable equipment, this should not be hard to understand. As you scale the system bigger, your efficiencies actually improve significantly.

Edit: I will add that systems 1/3 this size can still be useful for the use case under discussion, extended boondocking.

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[HaulingAss]

No you haven’t. Since the first Model S launched I’ve put these cars through every possible extreme and that’s what I’m doing with my Beast…. What’s hilarious is that you’re so convinced of the delusion, you’re ignoring the fact that even Tesla told you it’s not a practical solution yet. But if you want to throw a few thousand dollars away to find out this won’t work, go right ahead!

Oh, it works fine, it's proven technology and it's available off the shelf. The obvious problem is that you don't seem to understand the use case. Specifically, extended boondocking. Go back and read the thread again. Then you can come back with your head hanging in shame and apologize to us.

 

[Darthamerica]

Oh, it works fine, it's proven technology and it's available off the shelf. The obvious problem is that you don't seem to understand the use case. Specifically, extended boondocking. Go back and read the thread again. Then you can come back with your head hanging in shame and apologize to us.

The problem is that you are misunderstanding the topic here. The question was can you use a solar panel system and battery to get “unlimited range.” The answer is probably not. That’s because outside of a DIY project, it’s impractical, it would not be cost effective, and portable solar panels are not yet efficient enough to take advantage of limited and the unpredictable availability of sunlight.

Anyone with more than a cursory understanding of the technical challenges here can see the risks here. However some of you are so over zealots about this that you’re ignoring the obvious. If you drive a Cybertruck far enough off grid to need a charge on the last leg to return to civilization, there’s no way you could plan your return trip.

That’s why I asked you to show me the solar/battery system someone could buy that would allow for this. What came back was a pick a part motley of products that at best might help you offset some vampire drain, but would take a week or more in favorable conditions to recover enough energy to get you back. That’s not a camping trip, it’s a science experiment! It would be a great Cybertruck YouTube video for someone brave enough to try though!

If you disagree, that’s fine and we can agree to disagree. If however you feel convinced, you can list for us all of the components you’d buy to make this possible. Be sure to list each component, the cost, what survival supplies you need, the weight/cargo volume and a proposed location. If you’re really convinced you could also buy and try it! If you do, I’ll bring the Beast out and join you. Except I’ll bring an ICE generator and 10 or so gallons of fuel to make sure we make it back…

Of course we could wait until Tesla or some other OEM properly designs and integrates solar panels into a vehicle so that this is practical and possible! LMK

 

[Woodrick]

Sure, a reasonable distance that you have to traverse before you run below the level of charge needed to return.

Even more annoyingly, there are many places you might leave your truck all day that don't have power at all. So you're constantly losing power. Which means you need to get back to your truck before it runs out.

Yeah, at 2% a day, that's like three months if you're sitting next to a charger. But that's down to a month if you've gone 1/4 of your range and it's down to a day if you've gone 1/2 of your range.

Not counting power you're pulling for camp mode and recharging your lights and devices.

-Crissa

Phantom loss will get reduced and if it's going to be a big issue for you, just turn more things off in the truck.

Yes, use the solar solution for the campground, that's what they are built for. Why put the truck in the middle?
Camp mode? You'd better not be at the range limits of the vehicle. A/C takes power.

 

[Woodrick]

Real world experience that you handwave to?

You need to make sure you have the power to do the things you want to do.

I handily light and power my camp via solar. I don't know why you think 'Tesla experience' would change that. Lights, radios, cameras charged, run my soldering iron, etc.

My friend took this photo after charging from my solar set in 2013:

Foxgrrl on flickr

I currently have controllers for 12x the power I had that year. Which would allow for about 24 miles a day in a Cybertruck. It's all about context (you get almost 10 hours a day of good solar out in Black Rock City)

-Crissa

So this is easy.
Set it up, in your driveway if you want and see how much you get out of it.

Please let us know!

 

[Woodrick]

Oh, it works fine, it's proven technology and it's available off the shelf. The obvious problem is that you don't seem to understand the use case. Specifically, extended boondocking. Go back and read the thread again. Then you can come back with your head hanging in shame and apologize to us.

Examples?

 

[Woodrick]

Five days? That's less than a week if my math has not failed me.

What is it that you don't understand about extended boondocking? Maybe you don't camp and shouldn't be butting into something you know nothing about. How do you keep your fresh food cool or the beer cold?

If you want to drive all the way back into town, go for it. Just know there are other options. Options you will never experience because your mind is more closed than a sprung mousetrap. You have zero interest in learning anything new because you think you already know everything. It's very unflattering. Please wake up from your stupor!

5 days? Really you are going that low? With travel in and travel out days, that is a common timeframe.

I understand boondocking. And as an Electrical Engineer, I understand power budgets.

There are a number of refrigeration solutions available today that have energy requirements that are suitable for easily deployable solar solutions. But I have to say that you can't do this out in the woods. Trees get in your way.

I've camped for many years, most of it in trailers, but I've been at quite a few primitive campsites. I am well aware of the load that the lights and appliances represent.

This is really easy to prove me wrong. Should be many options for you to borrow, buy, and maybe even return a solution if you don't like it.

 

[Woodrick]

LOL! You don't know what you're talking about. Why would you wait until the sun stops shining?

So that the inverter is not cycling on and off to charge the vehicle.

When the inverter cycles, the vehicle can't sleep. When it can't sleep, it uses power.

 

[HaulingAss]

Examples?

Why are you being so dense? This is proven technology, I've been using battery solar generators for many years.

If you really are an electrical engineer you understand the technology and how to select an appropriate package. What I think your problem is, you don't understand the application. Just because you don't want to do extended boondocking in a sunny area, you think no one does.

The funniest objection is that it won't work if there are trees. Yeah, and I don't bring my mask, snorkel and fins to the desert either!

 

[Woodrick]

It's sad the way you cannot follow a simple, rational discussion.

Yes, it works, many of us have done it. No, you will not get a full charge in one or two days, that is not the point. Go back and read the discussion from the beginning and stop acting like an ignorant ass.

This isn't a rational discussion. It's a mathematics equation. You seem to be missing that part.

 

[HaulingAss]

So that the inverter is not cycling on and off to charge the vehicle.

When the inverter cycles, the vehicle can't sleep. When it can't sleep, it uses power.

You have obviously never done this.

Your battery generator will start charging in the morning as soon as your panels start producing. As production increases, you start charging the car, set the charging current to whatever the panels are producing. Leave it there all day and stop charging when there is no longer enough light and the battery in the solar generator discharges to 30-60%.

Once you actually do it, you will start to understand. Modify the proceedure to fit your individual needs. If you need to maximize production, you can change the orientation of the panels one or more times through the day, otherwise you can just lay them flat on the ground or face them south (depending upon your latitude and time of year).

Rocket science it ain't.

 

[HaulingAss]

This isn't a rational discussion. It's a mathematics equation. You seem to be missing that part.

No, I understand the math and the efficiencies involved. Either you don't understand that or, more likely, you are being obstinate about the application (extended boondocking).

 

[Darthamerica]

You have obviously never done this.

Your battery generator will start charging in the morning as soon as your panels start producing. As production increases, you start charging the car, set the charging current to whatever the panels are producing. Leave it there all day and stop charging when there is no longer enough light and the battery in the solar generator discharges to 30-60%.

Once you actually do it, you will start to understand. Modify the proceedure to fit your individual needs. If you need to maximize production, you can change the orientation of the panels once or more through the day, otherwise you can just lay them flat on the ground or face them south (depending upon your latitude and time of year).

Rocket science it ain't.

The CEO of the company who makes the CT and employs rocket scientists has told you this isn’t practical yet. Just saying…

 

[HaulingAss]

The CEO of the company who makes the CT and employs rocket scientists has told you this isn’t practical yet. Just saying…

Elon never said it wasn't practical to use solar electricity for extended boondocking (to counter normal vampire drain so your range increases instead of decreases). And he wouldn't say that because he understands these things.

You are confusing using 100% solar energy on a road trip with staying charged while doing extended boondocking.

Duh! Please re-read the thread.

 

[Darthamerica]

Elon never said it wasn't practical to use solar electricity for extended boondocking (to counter normal vampire drain so your range increases instead of decreases). And he wouldn't say that because he understands these things.

You are confusing using 100% solar energy on a road trip with staying charged while doing extended boondocking.

Duh! Please re-read the thread.

I think you need to re-read the OP. At no point did it say to counter normal vampire drain. Nice strawman though.

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