Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 172 posts

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#71

Post by fencepost »

DonHopkins wrote: post #42
devoply wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would also be cool, pun intended, to add windows with liquid crystals that can darken when parked to keep additional heat out.

Wouldn't darkening just absorb more heat? How about turning white, or a reflective coating? (Maybe not something liquid crystals could do, but a car with mirror shades would look cool.)

I believe the reduced interior heating comes from the windows absorbing heat instead of the interior surfaces. Those hotter windows may radiate some inside, but they'll radiate a lot outside that never got into the interior.

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#72

Post by agumonkey »

fencepost wrote: post #69
agumonkey wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hmm, gets me wondering if that's why my car can't climb hills when on AC.

"Hang on, I'm hitting the turbo button." (turns off AC)

as an 80s kid you don't know how much I love your idea..

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#73

Post by zamfi »

SketchySeaBeast wrote: post #57
bochoh wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe they just set the cooling to around 64F to keep pastries from melting etc. First world problems for sure.

At least they aren't burning liquid dinosaur.

Ultimately depends on how they're charging their Tesla. Could be gasified or petrified dinosaur!

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#74

Post by p1mrx »

hwillis wrote: post #29
temporaryvector wrote: post #12

I live in a pretty hot city (My car's outside thermometer showed 48°C yesterday at midday). The extended range is nice and all, but if somebody makes a car that can run the AC without running/draining the battery while it's parked, even if it's just a little to keep the car interior at 35°C or so, I would, without exaggeration, buy it the day it's released here. Hell, I'd consider it even if it would just keep the fa…

> The extended range is nice and all, but if somebody makes a car that can run the AC without running/draining the battery while it's parked, even if it's just a little to keep the car interior at 35°C or so, I would, without exaggeration, buy it the day it's released here. Tesla's dog mode does this. Draining the battery isn't really something to worry about; AC uses <300 watts over long periods (turns on and off at…

It looks like the Hyundai Kona EV has a Utility Mode that works similarly (the headlights are off, the vehicle is locked in park, and you can run the AC indefinitely.)

However, based on this thread, utility mode requires the key fob, so someone could just break a window and steal the car. I wish manufacturers other than Tesla would think about these use cases:

https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/u...

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#75

Post by IanCal »

temporaryvector wrote: post #53
hwillis wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even on constant full blast with the smallest battery Tesla sells, it's only gonna use ~2-3% per hour. Over 8 hours that would be 44 miles off the 220 mile range. > but it is probably the only reason I'm considering a Tesla if it ever comes to my city Hmm, Telsa should be pretty reachable. Perth and El Paso look like some of the only neglected hot cities.

I don't live in the US, as far as I'm aware there's only one Tesla store in my country and it's nowhere near me.

It seems that they deliver, if I'm reading the pages right. Not sure what being further away means for servicing though.

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#77

Post by CalChris »

This is interesting because the solar strip on the Nissan Leaf SL was just a do hickey, 9 watts max. It was capable of trickle charging the 12V starter which meant less draw for charging the 12V coming from the traction battery. Not nothing but really not much. I don't think it even rounded up to a mile of range.

I'm not sure what's up with the visibility out the rear window of the Honda as pictured.

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#78

Post by usrusr »

fencepost wrote: post #69
agumonkey wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hmm, gets me wondering if that's why my car can't climb hills when on AC.

"Hang on, I'm hitting the turbo button." (turns off AC)

Every car with voice control should recognize “divert life support to propulsion" as a command to turn off engine-driven AC.

Re: Toyota testing improved solar roof for EVs that can charge while driving

#80

Post by the8472 »

robotresearcher wrote: post #67
ilyaeck wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In theory, the solar roof should absorb ~30% of the rays a cars is exposed to, so it won't heat up as much. Not sure if the effect would be significant, though.

How does that compare the the fraction reflected by a white paint scheme?

You can have your cake, eat it and get icing on top by using a coating that

a) has a transmission window in the range that's useful for PV b) has high emissivity in the atmosphere's IR window c) has high reflectivity in the rest of the spectrum

Post reply on HN