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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

#101

Post by BurningFrog »

cortesoft wrote: post #99
temporaryvector wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure how true that would be in extremely hot weather, but it is probably the only reason I'm considering a Tesla if it ever comes to my city, my commute is really short so even if it cut 200 miles off the range it'd be worth it for me. Having a car with remote start alleviates the problem a little bit, but I'd rather not run an ICE engine while I'm not in the car for obvious reasons.

What do you mean by 'if it ever comes to my city'?

Yeah, can't you drive Teslas anywhere?

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

#102

Post by bumby »

helloguillecl wrote: post #85
ummonk wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I'd want that in a normal ICE car.

Why would you want this feature knowing that is burning gas that you paid for while idle? Would you be happy about the car releasing toxic gases like CO and NOX while parked?

This comment confuses me. The electric energy isn't free, and depending on the source its possibly emitting the same gases (but hopefully at a lower rate due to efficiency gains).

I'm all for EVs but I find these types of comments distracting and underscoring a fundamental misunderstanding

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

#103

Post by benj111 »

et2o wrote: post #88
benj111 wrote: post #60

Who wrote this? "This demo car’s prototype cells can convert solar energy at 34% and up" 34% what? "Using a redesigned solar battery cell film that measures only 0.03 mm" 0.03mm wide? Long? And what's a solar battery cell film???

The efficiency percentage on a solar panel refers to the amount of radiated energy from sunlight that can be converted into electricity. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficiency Less sure about the 0.03mm but I'm guessing the relevant metric would be thickness or depth.

I know that, its sloppy writing not to state it though.

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

#104

Post by timothyb89 »

p1mrx wrote: post #74
hwillis wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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?thread…

It was mentioned later in that thread, but the Kona EV also lets you control the AC remotely via its mobile app without leaving the keys in the car. I don't know if it'll run indefinitely, though; my old Chevy Volt would turn off remotely started climate control after 15 minutes or so, and I haven't tried in the Kona yet.

That said, even if it is time-limited, 15 minutes is usually enough to cool down the car without leaving the AC on all day.

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

#106

Post by jacobmassey »

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…

In the meantime, maybe roll your windows down when you get in the car?

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

#107

Post by unfoldedCravat »

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…

A couple of the old Priuses used to have a solar powered fan. I can’t find any good info on it at the moment but IIRC it was basically a computer fan coupled to a small solar panel so don’t think it was too effective.

https://priuschat.com/threads/solar-powered-fan-is-it-workin...

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

#108

Post by ambicapter »

jacobmassey wrote: post #106
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…

In the meantime, maybe roll your windows down when you get in the car?

> My car's outside thermometer showed 48°C

In case you wanted to feel like you were in a blast furnace instead of an oven?

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

#109

Post by todd8 »

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…

This definitely makes Teslas more attractive to me. About half the homes on my (short) street have Teslas. I didn't know how little hot weather affected the battery usage. I had mistakenly assumed that A/C would have a greater negative impact on range.

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

#110

Post by adrianmonk »

penagwin wrote: post #90
lettergram wrote: post #6

They 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.

Given the small surface area of the roofs, the efficiency of existing solar panels, and how much car companies exaggerate when it comes to miles (do they mean 27.7mi with all the seats removed, etc.) I would expect it to be a practical no-go for anything except sunshine. I'm from michigan, so in the winter assuming you park your car in the open for your job, you can easily expect it to be covered in snow - whenever i…

It would be very climate dependent.

Here in Texas, typically I'd have 0 to 5 days per year with snow on my car. And nobody drives on those days anyway.

And there are 228 sunny days in an average year.

I would be worried about hail, though. I know a lot of people whose cars have been damaged or even totalled by hail.

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