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A comment on Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic. Parent comment

Re:Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic by struggle2 on Thursday December 22, 2022 @01:24PM (#34096612)
No you are incorrect. There are 2 maximum masses: the one from the manufacturer and then the legal mass limit. Legal mass limit = MIN(3.5t, max mass according to manufacturer) or more precisely MIN(max_mass_you_are_certified_for, may_mass_according_to_manufacturer).

It is not about + or - 10 kg. But things definitely add up. 10kg here - 10kg there.

Solar panels is something that is under the control of whoever buys the vehicle. You have almost no influence of the vast majority of what makes up the van.

You also risk insurance issues when your car is over weight.

Believe me - weight is definitely an issue.

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Re:Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic by mwint on Thursday December 22, 2022 @08:38PM (#34101353)
Who is weighing your van, and when? Genuine question, as this practically doesn’t happen in the US for anything with fewer than 18 wheels.
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Re:Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic by struggle2 on Sunday December 25, 2022 @06:55AM (#34126441)
It happens all over the EU. Police will randomly select semis and camper vans and ask them to follow them to a weighting station. For example in Germany they are spread out along the Autobahn - same in France and NL.

The weight is usually determined by 4 scales (1 for each wheel).

Then they look at your papers which also includes information about max load at the front + back.

If you are over weight you have to get rid of the additional weight and if you can't they will seize the car. You get fined. It does happen.

It happened to me twice in Germany, once in Norway and once in France.

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