.

[Ogre]

I don’t think solar is a need for many.

Another random thought. Just not having to plug in every day. I know it’s a silly little thing, but it’s still nice. Most of the time I would just plug in if I have a trip the next day and possibly on returning with a low charge state.

I don’t know if solar will even be an option or how much it will be. The $1,500 number is just my lowball guess of how much I’d personally save by getting it.

Sponsored

 

[Crissa]

Solar capacity is almost always quoted “Under ideal conditions”. If you park the truck in the hot sun angled south in Southern California… Here in Oregon maybe we’d get half that. A third in the winter.

Oh, come on you don't live on the coast ^-^

"Oregonians don't tan, we rust."
"Ten million gallons of water and nowhere to go on Saturday night."

We got from 4-6 inches last night. I don't know, because my buckets over topped with how hard it was coming down.

-Crissa

 

[Crissa]

400 Watts per 36"x60" residential panel is 0.185 Watts per square inch.
Bed cover that covers 40" wide x 72" long is 2,880 inches square. 2,880 x 0.185 is just 532.8 Watts.
IF the CT has an efficiency of 400 Watts/mile, an 8 hour day (Yes, ideal conditions) would generate 4,262.4 wH per 8 hour day. That equates to just 10.656 miles per 8 hr. day.

If the CT is more efficient (350 W/Mi), it would make 12.17 miles per 8 hr. day.

Still, I'd take that. I also suspect the CT will be closer to 300 w/mi. in efficiency PLUS, mine will be parked for 9 hours every work day in an open parking lot, so mine will make 4,795 wH/day or 15.98 miles per day.

Probably not the way I'll drive it at first... LOL

The rule of thumb is five hours of good generation on average (different climates and latitudes vary) but it works out.

But the tonneau is on a slope over a 78" by at least 60". Even if we discount the slope (which only gains us about an inch anyhow), that's 1560 more square inches or about 50% more area than you gave it.

Tho personally, I think slats with solar are going to be less efficient than most new panels, because they need more space for the hinging, in the end it might wash out since they're mounted on a metal surface that can conduct away and stiffer cells you can use as a consequence...

-Crissa

 

[TyPope]

The rule of thumb is five hours of good generation on average (different climates and latitudes vary) but it works out.

But the tonneau is on a slope over a 78" by at least 60". Even if we discount the slope (which only gains us about an inch anyhow), that's 1560 more square inches or about 50% more area than you gave it.

Tho personally, I think slats with solar are going to be less efficient than most new panels, because they need more space for the hinging, in the end it might wash out since they're mounted on a metal surface that can conduct away and stiffer cells you can use as a consequence...

-Crissa

Yeah, hopefully, Tesla doesn't go with a slat stack like Rivian though it would eliminate hinges. My current cover, while covered with a soft looking vinyl, has the hinges below the surface so the top surface is completely flat. The CT will do this as well. Hinges go kind of like this:

 

[Crissa]

Yeah, hopefully, Tesla doesn't go with a slat stack like Rivian though it would eliminate hinges. My current cover, while covered with a soft looking vinyl, has the hinges below the surface so the top surface is completely flat. The CT will do this as well. Hinges go kind of like this:

Well, even if they don't, it only needs to expand, not contract, or stack like the Rivian one. All the way through hinges reduce the problem of one side getting ahead of the other.

-Crissa

 

[charliemagpie]

I think cover may be constructed using Tesla roof tech.

My estimate 59" x 71" 150cm x 180cm = 2.7 sqm

2.7sqm x 177.39watts = 478.9 watts

 

[Ogre]

2.7sqm x 177.39watts = 478.9 watts

That would generate roughly 4 kWh/ day. That would be about 10 - 15 miles/ day depending on efficiency so it’s a good ballpark.

I would be quite happy if all they did was add plugs so I could install my own external panels. I could have a few on the roof of our carport to keep the truck topped off. I know I could do that by converting to AC and back, but there are losses there and more expensive hardware. Plus if you could plug in cheap external panels it would be fantastic for camping.

Sponsored