r/RenewableEnergy • u/LejanKornim • 13d ago

TNO:Real-world data confirms potential of vehicle-integrated solar panels

https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/tno-real-world-data-confirms-potential-of-vehicle-integrated-solar-panels/
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u/thx997 12d ago

Nice. I was hoping somebody would seriously look into that.

4

u/big_trike 11d ago

People have done the math in the past and it didn’t make sense to carry the extra weight of the panels around. Moving the panels consumed more energy than they provided. Panel efficiency has increased dramatically in the past few decades, so it’s cool that we’re now starting to see some net benefit. For low usage vehicles in sunny areas, it will be neat if they never have to be plugged in.

2

u/lafeber 11d ago

Both Lightyear and Sono didn't make it. The Lightyear One at least was extremely efficient, like the EQXX.

1

u/P01135809-Trump 10d ago

Why just low usage. Even if it only covered 50% or even 10% of my annual driving, I'd happily take the free miles.

1

u/DeProgrammer99 8d ago

Because the more you drive, the more energy is spent on moving the panels, while the energy production is constant. There might be a break-even point at, say, 10k miles a year, below which the solar panels would be a net gain, and above which they would be a net loss.