Re:Toyota is trying to put solar panels on a Prius to charge...
by aembleton on Friday September 13, 2019 @09:31AM
(#20961944)
There's also the extra weight involved. If you used that extra weight for more batteries instead of solar panels, you might have even more range.
Re:Toyota is trying to put solar panels on a Prius to charge...
by jfengel on Friday September 13, 2019 @11:24AM
(#20962941)
If they could paint the solar cells directly into the surface of the car, it would add little additional weight. Most of the weight of a solar panel is the backing and frame to provide stiffness, and you could use the car body for that.
That's a big "if", though. Photovoltaic paint is currently around half as efficient as commercial solar panels.
Re:Toyota is trying to put solar panels on a Prius to charge...
by codedokode on Saturday September 14, 2019 @08:11AM
(#20970294)
It doesn't have to be a paint, it could be a film.
Re:Toyota is trying to put solar panels on a Prius to charge...
by wiglaf1979 on Friday September 13, 2019 @10:49AM
(#20962660)
Something like this might be what you want. Hangs on the window and is solar powered.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Solar-Sun-Powered-Power-Window-Fa...
Re:Toyota is trying to put solar panels on a Prius to charge...
by travisporter on Sunday September 15, 2019 @12:32AM
(#20975579)
That was proven to be useless. However, I found this project https://acool.global/. Anyone have any insights on this?
And that's assuming you're parking outside at all while at work. In suburbia you might be. Good luck in any big city.
Overall I don't see how this is going to be economically efficient any time soon, even in the best use cases. It seems better to have fixed solar and a plug. But I hope I'm wrong.