> it still makes more sense to carry separate panels folded in storage
I wonder if the added weight of detachable panels would cancel out any benefit, though.
Weight is an insignificant factor for cars. Wind resistance dominates the energy costs. Though the space used may change wind resistance.
Only if you are choosing to park in the sun instead of parking in covered parking. That's almost never a choice your can actually make.
The real utility of solar panels would be for driving in areas that don't have utilities (places to charge) near enough to charge from. Though, in that case, it still makes more sense to carry separate panels folded in storage than to integrate them into the roof.