Wouldn’t it be cool if Ecoflow did this for the Cybertruck?

[blu3]

I would absolutely love something like this. My case is:
- San Diego charges more than 50 cents per kwh
- My work's parking is in the full sun, so cabin overheat is most of my drain (equals the actual commute in the summer I'm finding)
- I spend time putting an interior windshield cover on everyday anyway, which is less effective than an external one.

For me to have an easy-deploy solar cover that goes from frunk to tailgate would solve a lot of problems at once. It'd be trivial to have a solar generator in the bed or frunk that collects all those electrons, and either put them back in the truck right away or take them home and use them around the house.

I'm also based in San Diego and picked up a 400W solar blanket that's easy to deploy and fits perfectly over the tonneau cover. It can also be placed over the roof glass or front windshield. That said, having a more permanent solution would definitely be ideal. The EcoFlow solution looks great, I would pick it up if they made it for the CT.

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[hemiarch]

I'm also based in San Diego and picked up a 400W solar blanket that's easy to deploy and fits perfectly over the tonneau cover. It can also be placed over the roof glass or front windshield. That said, having a more permanent solution would definitely be ideal. The EcoFlow solution looks great, I would pick it up if they made it for the CT.

Can you please provide a link to that?

 

[hemiarch]

So all you mathematicians are absolutely correct from an economics and energy balance standpoint.
That’s not why I want solar charging.
For me it’s to add unstrandabilty in remote places to the already impressive list of things the Cybertruck is impervious to.
If you have batteries and about 800w total solar by my math, you’d be able to get out of just about anywhere and make it to a supercharger with a little patience (and cooperative weather).
That would make me feel infinitely better about camping in the Arizona desert with my young kids. It would also be nice to handle all your camping needs and any phantom drain while the car truly sleeps to conserve energy.
if I’m not LOSING energy, I’m happy even adding something trivial like 1-3 miles/hr because it means I have no deadline for leaving. What’s that worth?
At least the price of entry for me. I’d get that and the cybertruckco hood panel and set it up on a delta 2 max with an 800w Ecoflow alternator charger/tender managing a larger battery in the subtrunk.
maybe something like this?
https://a.co/d/1P09K8B
Maybe a little smaller.
Being managed by this
https://a.co/d/4aDSMHb
The delta 2 max has two 500w solar inputs so I’d try collect about 400w out of my 800w array (maybe even 1000w array with smart layout and/or portable panel addition) and supplement it with the 800w backfeed of energy form the subtrunk battery which enters the power station through a completely different dc connector. That should result in a pretty consistent 1-1.5kw charging ability during daylight hours.

 

[henchman24]

So all you mathematicians are absolutely correct from an economics and energy balance standpoint.
That’s not why I want solar charging.
For me it’s to add unstrandabilty in remote places to the already impressive list of things the Cybertruck is impervious to.
If you have batteries and about 800w total solar by my math, you’d be able to get out of just about anywhere and make it to a supercharger with a little patience (and cooperative weather).
That would make me feel infinitely better about camping in the Arizona desert with my young kids. It would also be nice to handle all your camping needs and any phantom drain while the car truly sleeps to conserve energy.
if I’m not LOSING energy, I’m happy even adding something trivial like 1-3 miles/hr because it means I have no deadline for leaving. What’s that worth?
At least the price of entry for me. I’d get that and the cybertruckco hood panel and set it up on a delta 2 max with an 800w Ecoflow alternator charger/tender managing a larger battery in the subtrunk.
maybe something like this?
https://a.co/d/1P09K8B
Maybe a little smaller.
Being managed by this
https://a.co/d/4aDSMHb
The delta 2 max has two 500w solar inputs so I’d try collect about 400w out of my 800w array (maybe even 1000w array with smart layout and/or portable panel addition) and supplement it with the 800w backfeed of energy form the subtrunk battery which enters the power station through a completely different dc connector. That should result in a pretty consistent 1-1.5kw charging ability during daylight hours.

Those alternator chargers won't work on the CT as there is not alternator to wire to. You could plug into the CT inverter and charge a power station, but really defeats the purpose of the whole exercise.

An 800w array assuming all on the same plane and good efficiency would net you about 3.5-4kWh. Considering there isn't any way to get them all on the same plane, you're realistically not going to get that (and at most latitudes the CT anlges are not great for solar). You might get 500w on average without moving, but probably closer to the 400w of of the array. So ~2-2.5 kWh. You'll lose about 3-5% in storing it in the battery, but for ease, let's just ignore that. 120v charging any Tesla is about ~75-80% efficient (240v is ~85-90%). Solar generators are around 85% efficient at converting from their battery to AC power. So even at the high end... 4*.85*.80 you get 2.72kWh into the battery. Say you turn off sentry mode and let the truck fully sleep. You still lose around 1.25kWh per day via vampire drain. All of this states as a best case scenario, you gain 1% per day while parked and not utilizing anything from the truck. Now take the realistic high end 2.5*.85*.8 and you get 1.7kWh. You're essentially covering vampire drain only... maybe half percent.

But if not leaving or moving is your goal, it accomplishes that. It can be done is a far easier, more efficient manner though. Just buy the commodity 3-400w foldable solar panels for a couple hundred bucks and when you park, set them up. As a bonus, you could park the truck in the shade keeping as much heat off it as possible (or buying a cover) and lowering vampire drain. As an additional bonus you can adjust the panels for peak output without moving the truck.

Or as sacreligious as it is... buy a decent 2000w inverter generator with 5 gallons of gas. Honda generators are in the realm of ~.25 gallons/kWh (some HF Predators are just as efficient and super cheap too). Some a little better, some a little worse. That's ~20kWh right there (that still has to run through the ~80% efficiency so 16kWh into the truck). 5 gallons takes up very little room considering the energy it contains. So going to 10-15-20 gallons is rather trivial. I'm not suggesting people do that all the time, but for camping in the middle of nowhere, it makes a lot more sense.

Solar panels cover the truck is a neat idea, there is just no real use case out of it being a neat novelty. The efficiency just isn't there in the panels, power conversions, or the vehicle.

Saying all of that, it would be fun to do with a RWD M3 with the hairpin motors. Those things are insanely efficient (4.5-5mi per kWh with ease) where if you could produce 2kWh per day (need more than these panels) and don't average over 10 miles a day. You might get rather close to being able to run off panels on the car.

 

[TyPope]

I don't really see the point, I mean if you really want to try to charge via the sun it would seem better to just buy 2 actual 400w+ panels and mount them to a rack up top connected to a large series of batteries in the back to take the power. Why settle for a lower output panel?

That's what I'd mess around with... Maybe 1 SunPower panel mounted to the rails just below the tonneau cover so you can close it for security or at night. But, you'd make just 435w with it. So, parked for 9 hours in ideal conditions, it would produce right at 4KwH. Which, in my case, would offset vampiric drain. In some cases, it may even cover the commute. LOL. But, getting the power into the truck battery is the sticking point and in this exercise, it just makes sense to put the panel on the house instead.

 

[henchman24]

That's what I'd mess around with... Maybe 1 SunPower panel mounted to the rails just below the tonneau cover so you can close it for security or at night. But, you'd make just 435w with it. So, parked for 9 hours in ideal conditions, it would produce right at 4KwH. Which, in my case, would offset vampiric drain. In some cases, it may even cover the commute. LOL. But, getting the power into the truck battery is the sticking point and in this exercise, it just makes sense to put the panel on the house instead.

The rule of thumb with fixed mount rooftop solar is 4-5 sun hours per day. Unless you're in Alaska or northern Canada in the peak of summer, you're not going to get 9 sun hours in a day and even then a fixed point setup it is very unlikely. Most of the US besides the southwest is 4-4.5 per day. Some areas of the southwest (and Florida) get to 5.5. Meaning really the most you can expect out of that 435w is 435*5 or ~2.2kWh. That's prior to shading that would likely be an issue mounting on the l track rails though you could get creative with the mount to minimize that. And the angle (even if matching the tonneau) wouldn't be all that advantageous for gathering solar. A 435w panel would likely be in the realm of 1.5-1.8kWh per day mounted like that.

As a point of reference, I have an off-grid cabin that has a 3.4 kW solar panel setup in Southern Colorado (rated by NREL at ~5.25 sun hours per day). If I get an absolute perfect day, I may hit 19 kWh, but on most days it is around 16-17. In the winter, that falls to 13-15 (assuming not covered with snow). My average for last year was 15.7kW produced per day. So ~4.62 is my sun hours per day in an area rated for ~5.25.

 

[TyPope]

The rule of thumb with fixed mount rooftop solar is 4-5 sun hours per day. Unless you're in Alaska or northern Canada in the peak of summer, you're not going to get 9 sun hours in a day and even then a fixed point setup it is very unlikely. Most of the US besides the southwest is 4-4.5 per day. Some areas of the southwest (and Florida) get to 5.5. Meaning really the most you can expect out of that 435w is 435*5 or ~2.2kWh. That's prior to shading that would likely be an issue mounting on the l track rails though you could get creative with the mount to minimize that. And the angle (even if matching the tonneau) wouldn't be all that advantageous for gathering solar. A 435w panel would likely be in the realm of 1.5-1.8kWh per day mounted like that.

As a point of reference, I have an off-grid cabin that has a 3.4 kW solar panel setup in Southern Colorado (rated by NREL at ~5.25 sun hours per day). If I get an absolute perfect day, I may hit 19 kWh, but on most days it is around 16-17. In the winter, that falls to 13-15 (assuming not covered with snow). My average for last year was 15.7kW produced per day. So ~4.62 is my sun hours per day in an area rated for ~5.25.

Cool. Thanks for your insight. I was thinking "hours in the sun" not "number of optimal sun equivalent hours" which is what I should have been thinking. I park in a huge parking lot with nary a tree around. I thought it would be neat if I could avoid a little of the cabin overheat watt loss. Sentry mode hardly uses any but when I have to park for several days...

I remember back in the day before windows with UV protection, a little fan that basically filled the window gap and had a little solar panel that hung down flat to the glass on the inside. You'd put the thing on your window, roll the window up to "pinch it" in place and the solar panel worked a small fan that exchanged outside air for in. It was basically a small step above using Vent mode... And, it was allegedly a little safer because someone would have to poke the thing in and it didn't have a big gap. Anyway, something similar in a Tesla that worked with the HVAC to just move out the hot air would be swell.

The one I remembered had the panel inside but was something like this:
Solar Vent

 

[Ken in Miami]

The big issue on any of these types of panels is the payback and real world usability. The Model Y version is said to produce 1.5 kWh per day. At 15 cents per kWh that is 22.5 cents per day... at the peak (and realistically, it would be ~70% of that). Assuming you get that and there are no conversion losses you're at ~2,400 days of payback. Add in conversion losses and cloudy days... you could easily add 50% back to that. It could easily be a 8-10 year payback just on the panel, and prior to any powerstation added to it. Then on top of all of that, these flexible panels tend to only last 5-6 years before delaminating.

Then on top of all of that, even if you don't utilize sentry mode, this would pretty much only over vampire drain.

In the very best case scenario assuming full sun, power and no conversion or vampire drain losses on a RWD M3... the 1.3kWh that produces would give you ~6 miles of range a day.

The idea is great, but we're not at the point in technology where it really makes sense. Could be neat as a camping accessory, but even then you'd be better off with a more standard portable panel.

You are a buzz kill! But practical and realistic! I am going to pass on a ten year payback. As tech progresses it will work out better each year.

 

[Ken in Miami]

The rule of thumb with fixed mount rooftop solar is 4-5 sun hours per day. Unless you're in Alaska or northern Canada in the peak of summer, you're not going to get 9 sun hours in a day and even then a fixed point setup it is very unlikely. Most of the US besides the southwest is 4-4.5 per day. Some areas of the southwest (and Florida) get to 5.5. Meaning really the most you can expect out of that 435w is 435*5 or ~2.2kWh. That's prior to shading that would likely be an issue mounting on the l track rails though you could get creative with the mount to minimize that. And the angle (even if matching the tonneau) wouldn't be all that advantageous for gathering solar. A 435w panel would likely be in the realm of 1.5-1.8kWh per day mounted like that.

As a point of reference, I have an off-grid cabin that has a 3.4 kW solar panel setup in Southern Colorado (rated by NREL at ~5.25 sun hours per day). If I get an absolute perfect day, I may hit 19 kWh, but on most days it is around 16-17. In the winter, that falls to 13-15 (assuming not covered with snow). My average for last year was 15.7kW produced per day. So ~4.62 is my sun hours per day in an area rated for ~5.25.

I’m finally learning about solar from you guys! Hurricanes and insurance have prohibited my solar journey.

 

[blu3]

Can you please provide a link to that?

Sure, here is the link:
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-400w-solar-panel-blanket/

They offer a 200W version that’s about half the size, but the 400W panel is a perfect fit for the Cybertruck. In fact, there’s enough space across the Cybertruck to run three 400W panels simultaneously, delivering up to 1.2kW. Add the CybertruckCo 200w hood flexible solar panel and you could potentially reach 1.4kW. At that point, the limiting factor becomes your solar generator/battery capabilities. The solar blanket folds up into a surprisingly small tight package as well.

 

[henchman24]

Cool. Thanks for your insight. I was thinking "hours in the sun" not "number of optimal sun equivalent hours" which is what I should have been thinking. I park in a huge parking lot with nary a tree around. I thought it would be neat if I could avoid a little of the cabin overheat watt loss. Sentry mode hardly uses any but when I have to park for several days...

I remember back in the day before windows with UV protection, a little fan that basically filled the window gap and had a little solar panel that hung down flat to the glass on the inside. You'd put the thing on your window, roll the window up to "pinch it" in place and the solar panel worked a small fan that exchanged outside air for in. It was basically a small step above using Vent mode... And, it was allegedly a little safer because someone would have to poke the thing in and it didn't have a big gap. Anyway, something similar in a Tesla that worked with the HVAC to just move out the hot air would be swell.

The one I remembered had the panel inside but was something like this:
Solar Vent

Cabin overheat is pretty much that, but at a set temp and will utilize AC. The Nissan Leaf used to have a solar panel too that ran a ventilation fan.

You are a buzz kill! But practical and realistic! I am going to pass on a ten year payback. As tech progresses it will work out better each year.

Yeah very much a buzzkill here. I love the idea, just the physics don't work yet. I think you could get rather close on a RWD M3 though. The early highland LFP M3 would be the ideal candidate. Super efficient and a battery that doesn't calendar age as quickly at high SoC.

I’m finally learning about solar from you guys! Hurricanes and insurance have prohibited my solar journey.

Even with the weather issues, solar works so well in south Florida. Much quicker payback that more northern and less sunny states.

 

[hemiarch]

Sure, here is the link:
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-400w-solar-panel-blanket/

They offer a 200W version that’s about half the size, but the 400W panel is a perfect fit for the Cybertruck. In fact, there’s enough space across the Cybertruck to run three 400W panels simultaneously, delivering up to 1.2kW. Add the CybertruckCo 200w hood flexible solar panel and you could potentially reach 1.4kW. At that point, the limiting factor becomes your solar generator/battery capabilities. The solar blanket folds up into a surprisingly small tight package as well.

Awesome. I use these but the proportions of the renogy look nice to me.
https://a.co/d/atmOqXh
I carry a delta 3 pro most of the time but I could over panel my delta 2 max with those and make a consistent 1kw without having anything on the ground. Are there loops on the corners? Was thinking I’d probably carbiner them to some strong magnets.
Would love to have something that stays on the car though and continues to charge effortlessly all the time.

 

[blu3]

Awesome. I use these but the proportions of the renogy look nice to me.
https://a.co/d/atmOqXh
I carry a delta 3 pro most of the time but I could over panel my delta 2 max with those and make a consistent 1kw without having anything on the ground. Are there loops on the corners? Was thinking I’d probably carbiner them to some strong magnets. It has enough heft that I haven’t really needed to secure it so far, but better to be safe.
Would love to have something that stays on the car though and continues to charge effortlessly all the time.

Nice! Both of those Deltas would easily do the job. Yes, there are 16 loops in total, on the corners and along the edges, that you can use to secure it with carabiners. The magnet idea is clever; I’ll definitely consider trying that too. It has enough heft that I haven’t really needed to secure it yet, but there will definitely be times when it's necessary.
I’m with you, having a more permanent solution would be ideal. I was really hoping the solar tonneau would become a reality, but maybe we'll see something like the EcoFlow’s solution tailored for the CT.

 

[hemiarch]

Nice! Both of those Deltas would easily do the job. Yes, there are 16 loops in total, on the corners and along the edges, that you can use to secure it with carabiners. The magnet idea is clever; I’ll definitely consider trying that too. It has enough heft that I haven’t really needed to secure it yet, but there will definitely be times when it's necessary.
I’m with you, having a more permanent solution would be ideal. I was really hoping the solar tonneau would become a reality, but maybe we'll see something like the EcoFlow’s solution tailored for the CT.

Magnets are the way to go on the Cybertruck. Just buy something slightly narrower than the cantrail. I use it for a lot of stuff. Trash bag, shower, camp whiteboard, decorative stuff for the kids. It’s awesome to have a giant angular stainless steel canvass. Especially one covered in ppf.
https://a.co/d/9qGNcVf

 

[OldDirtyRobot]

I don't really see the point, I mean if you really want to try to charge via the sun it would seem better to just buy 2 actual 400w+ panels and mount them to a rack up top connected to a large series of batteries in the back to take the power. Why settle for a lower output panel?

I was thinking the same thing. There is a better way to go about this.

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