Solar Tonneau Cover For The Future

[GANTZ]

Found this old post about solar tonneau cover from 2020 article mentions “Just like you can't get an electric truck yet, you also can't get the mobile panel and solar generator system at this point.” Well it’s 2023 and I got an R1T.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/worksport-terravis-solar-tonneau-cover-truck-bed-power-system/

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[kozak79]

Here's a pre-order page for a similar or rebranded? cover:
https://worksport.com/pages/solis-cor

 

[Dark-Fx]

You'd have to always park facing North to get an effective charge. Would be pretty annoying.

 

[Thedude]

Very likely the cost will outweigh any benefits of having a solar tonneau cover. I have solar panels on my travel trailer that would just about take the same amount of space as the Rivian tonneau cover. In the last 8 months they have produced 170kwh of electricity or about 40 miles a month.

 

[VSG]

... and you have to be parked in the sun to get even that much. How much extra energy will the AC use when you do this?

It doesn't pencil out for me in any scenario.

 

[GANTZ]

Also found this.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...-solar-panels-and-weather-sensing-210763.html

https://www.autoevolution.com/pdf/n...h-solar-panels-and-weather-sensing-210763.pdf

 

[NY_Rob]

I'm sure Doc Brown has something in his lab that will work for us...

What ever happened to "paint on solar panels"? Where the paint on your house (or vehicle or it's tonneau cover) generates electricity: https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/solar-paint-hydrogen-quantum-dot-perovskite-solar-cells

 

[Zoidz]

I'm sure Doc Brown has something in his lab that will work for us...

What ever happened to "paint on solar panels"? Where the paint on your house (or vehicle or it's tonneau cover) generates electricity: https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/solar-paint-hydrogen-quantum-dot-perovskite-solar-cells

You know the answer..... s 0 === 0 n

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

A good way to trickle charge and keep the 12v topped. And use remaining power generated for cabin climate while parked or while driving. Not very useful for charging the HV pack.

 

[PVguy]

Found this old post about solar tonneau cover from 2020 article mentions “Just like you can't get an electric truck yet, you also can't get the mobile panel and solar generator system at this point.” Well it’s 2023 and I got an R1T.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/worksport-terravis-solar-tonneau-cover-truck-bed-power-system/

Gonna be a lot of very disappointed customers. The author of the Motortrend article needs to be instructed on the difference between power (kW) and energy (kWh).

 

[HyperionMark]

https://www.amazon.com/Newpowa-Mono...3&sprefix=square+solar+pa,aps,126&sr=8-6&th=1
4 of these guys together could make a good little cover and give you up to 400 W camping or elsewhere.

 

[fhteagle]

4 of these guys together could make a good little cover and give you up to 400 W camping or elsewhere.

I have 4 of a similar size / spec from a different brand that I'm evaluating for my solar trailer rebuild. Best I've seen is about 1.8kWh/ day under nearly perfect conditions. Might be enough to offset gear guard being on all day, or maybe "pay" the energy cost of one cabin preconditioning event. Not enough to drive any significant distance on though.

 

[HyperionMark]

I have 4 of a similar size / spec from a different brand that I'm evaluating for my solar trailer rebuild. Best I've seen is about 1.8kWh/ day under nearly perfect conditions. Might be enough to offset gear guard being on all day, or maybe "pay" the energy cost of one cabin preconditioning event. Not enough to drive any significant distance on though.

Oh for sure. More thinking for camping off grid or tailgating or something. Or if someone has to park in the sun all day everyday....hey, free juice.

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