Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
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Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#2If you run the math on this, even assuming 100% efficient conversion to electricity, it doesn't seem very useful.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#3If you run the math on this, even assuming 100% efficient conversion to electricity, it doesn't seem very useful.
>>The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more.
As someone with nearly 100 miles of round trip commute (and who parks in a usually very sunny parking lot) I would certainly appreciate 27+ miles of "free" range. Certainly enough to be useful for me. In the case of a Tesla I'm sure it's more than enough to negate the continuous usage of sentry mode as well.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#4If you run the math on this, even assuming 100% efficient conversion to electricity, it doesn't seem very useful.
> The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun
That seems like a big deal. Most drivers actually drive in the 30-50 mile range per day (IIRC Chevy said that over 80% of commuters would be able to only be on electric with their 53-electric-mile-range Volt). So for most drivers this amount of power could reduce their external electricity needs by somewhere between 50-100%.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#5If you run the math on this, even assuming 100% efficient conversion to electricity, it doesn't seem very useful.
>>The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more. As someone with nearly 100 miles of round trip commute (and who parks in a usually very sunny parking lot) I would certainly appreciate 27+ miles o…
I wonder if it'll provide enough power so that you can park and wait with AC or the stereo (admittedly two very different loads) running without worrying about it cutting into your range.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#6They are claiming up to 27.7mi per day left in the sun. If true, my 5mi commute each way would be possible without ever charging the vehicle in the summer...
That being s said, curious how this holds up to weather (hail, snow, etc) and whether those numbers are accurate.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
>>The new system will provide up to 44.5 km (27.7 miles) of additional range per day while parked and soaking up sun, and can add up to 56.3 km (35 miles) of power to both the driving system and the auxiliary power battery on board, which runs the AC, navigation and more. As someone with nearly 100 miles of round trip commute (and who parks in a usually very sunny parking lot) I would certainly appreciate 27+ miles o…
I wonder if it'll provide enough power so that you can park and wait with AC or the stereo (admittedly two very different loads) running without worrying about it cutting into your range.
I think that would wholely depend on the setup for the AC compressor. If it's entirely electric and sized appropriately it can be a fairly efficient mechanism. A friend of mine uses the AC in their tesla to keep pastries cold from lunch to evening commute for < 10-20 miles of range depending on ambient temperatures. Meanwhile my gas SUV idles at .3 - .5 gallons per hour depending on engine load. (4 cylinder 2.0 liter, non-turbo).
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wonder if it'll provide enough power so that you can park and wait with AC or the stereo (admittedly two very different loads) running without worrying about it cutting into your range.
I think that would wholely depend on the setup for the AC compressor. If it's entirely electric and sized appropriately it can be a fairly efficient mechanism. A friend of mine uses the AC in their tesla to keep pastries cold from lunch to evening commute for < 10-20 miles of range depending on ambient temperatures. Meanwhile my gas SUV idles at .3 - .5 gallons per hour depending on engine load. (4 cylinder 2.0 liter…
They use their Tesla like a fridge for only 10-20 miles reduction????? That's amazing both in it's apparent wastefulness and efficiency. If that's the same scale, solar charging could easily keep your AC and stereo on while you wait.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#9This is like any other concept car. It's a cool concept but won't make it to production.
The commercial viability of this is far off. 34% solar is prohibitively expensive. You won't see these on cars until costs come down significantly.
Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving
#10I'll start thinking Toyota is serious about EVs when it actually starts saying so -- only recently it said the future are hybrids. Yeah, right. Good luck with the bankruptcy/firesale in 10 years Toyota!