http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/products.shtml



I like the concept, (haven't even seen a price), but am concerned how the FEH/etc is able to use the additional power when not in EV mode, say driving down the highway at speeds above the EV cutoff.

Any speculation?

 

That photo was featured on this site in the past. It is not a hybrid Escape. Look on the right side of the rear cargo door and notice the V6 symbol. I posted at the other site, the Solar Prius has a $4500.00 purchase price plus a possible two days of labor cost! I would speculate the Solar Prius would only generate 200watts of energy under excellent conditions. Useless where I live during the winter months due to the constant overcast conditions.

 

Thanks Billy. This is my first Ford in 20 years. Last one was owned by my Dad, a work truck I drove, so I'm not up on the visual clues like you are.

Still, there's a description of their product and several people here know how the EV system works.

 

Wow really bad Idea. Lets do some math. 200W solar array, 6000W need to go 1.5 miles (est). You would need to have the car in direct sunlight for 30 hours to drive 1.5 miles. That assumes that you could somehow directly charge the HV battery, you can't. It would make MUCH more sense to make a plug-in option for a few dollars.

 

Maybe not an array that size, a smaller one maybe; but probably not even possible, but what about solar to HV battery heater? Not engie heater also, that's why I don't think it's possible. Just a little juice in the winter to keep the HV a little warmer?

 

When I plug in my engine block heater that also has a connection to the hybrid battery heater, I pull around 510 watts via my "Kill-A-Watt" device. If I am not mistaken, the hybrid battery heater uses around 75 watts. The solar roof panel would generate how many watts? Then there is the issue with the newer Escape Hybrids "missing" the wire that runs into the hybrid battery heater. Ford does not have a retail part number for just this missing wire that is part of wire conduct #14405. I'm not saying it couldn't be done but only by someone with advance engineering/mechanical knowledge and likely with inside "Ford" information. Remember, messing with the high voltage hybrid battery can "KILL YOU".

 

Your math is not quite correct. If the FEH needs 6000W to go 25MPH in EV, to go 1.5 miles would take 3.6 minutes and thus 21,6000 Watt-minutes or 360 watt-hours of power. That is less than 2 hours of sun for a 200W array. To take the SoC from 40% to 53% is only about 240 Watt-hours of energy.

 

I agree with the previous post.
I hope we can all agree that driving a heavy vehicle from on-board solar power is just not feasible. What sounds like a much better idea is the solar powered heater, or cooler ( a fan ) for summer.

Just keeping the battery pack between 60'F and 85'F as much as possible will do wonderful things for raising your MPG.

HTH,
-John

 

.... which is really strange, since my milieage drops in the winter months.... must be some other over-power factors that negates the cooler battery temps.

 

What temps. are you refering to?

Below 60 degrees and your battery amperage drops. ( gradually )
Above 85 degrees and your A/C compressor turns on, and puts more load on the gas engine. ( instantly lowering MPG )