• Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
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    22 days ago

    There’s something that people really fail to grasp with solar, and that’s the fact there is bugger all energy in the sun, and you need a huge surface area to get any meaningful energy.

    A home solar array often takes up a significant chunk of the roof area, and the amount of surface area a car typically has means that even perfectly efficient solar panels wouldn’t collect enough energy to significantly contribute to the vehicle’s range.

    There’s a good reason why vehicle manufacturers don’t bother adding them.

    • Revan343@lemmy.ca
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      22 days ago

      Solar panels are also added weight, which reduces range. Any way you look at it, it makes more sense to have the solar panels at a base location you go back to.

      I guess an RV, or a camp trailer, makes sense to have panels on it, but that’s about it

      • oyo@lemm.ee
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        22 days ago

        Solar panels are incredibly thin and light. There is no reason not to include them.

        • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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          22 days ago

          Price. Large standardized panels are cheaper. Until you cover static otherwise unused space with solar, there’s no way this car is a better use of money.