This is topic thats been discussed allot, but no one really seems to have any definite answers as to what really works when you attach a Solar panel to a FEH, MTH, or a MMH.

One thing that has been confirmed is that the DC plug is a open circuit so power is able to flow even if the SUV is off.

The big question is when you attach a solar Panel with a DC plug will it make a difference in MPG.

I've heard Yes and No.
Wouldn't it make sense that if power was being sent thru the DC plug it would charge the main battery?






"Mazda Tribute Hybrid owner and loving it"

 

The 12 volt starter battery will appreciate it.

 

These people say it will help with what they install


http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/

 

Yea, nice Escape pic, guess it cost so much to install they had to sell it! (just noticed, isn't that a v6 embelem on the tailgate?)


I don't see how solar alone would help, it seems, atleast in the Prius example, an extra batery pack is installed, I guess like these plug in add-on kits we keep hearing about, and few here are testing, now that can help, and solar to charge it vs a plug makes sence.

BTW unless I'm totaly wrong, the little 12V batt would not even begin to crank our 'Scapes, we tap off the 330V

 

I've used little chargers like this for my motorcycles and generally they produce just enough power to keep the 12v battery stable over a period of time. It takes quite a large amount of sun and a long time to increase the charge substantially.

So if it could impact MPG, it would be a negligible difference.

If you want to improve your mileage by 1%, just pull 37lbs. out of the vehicle. I'd start with the extra 10lbs most of us carry around our bellies.

 

A few cheap solar panels can increase MPG by 25% in the FEH.
Use Solar to run a cooling fan stuck in your window.
This way, perhaps, you can get away without using the Air Conditioner.
The Air Conditioner Zaps fuel ecomony by 25% in the city drive, and 10% on the highway.

This is your best bet.
This is the SMART thing to do.
This will also work to some degree on any car!

You cannot capture enough solar electricity to drive with.
It is mathmatically impossible without home roof size panels.
The math says any car-mounted system will give you 1 mile of electricity, on average, after a whole day in the sun.

Do the math for yourself.
Which is better, 1 mile of EV ( and the Air Conditioner would have to be off anyhow )
or all your city miles 25% better since you were able to keep the A/C off?

-John

 

Well it almost seems a big waste to even bother with solar, unless you have your whole roof covered in panels. Especially if you can get the same result by dropping some weight off, (spare tire?). The Whole idea of going "Green" was to make a bold statment and to make a bigger effort to get of the Oil (Junkie addict).

I am curiuos to find out if their is anyone out there who's made a real attempt to harness the power of the sun in conjuction with their Hybrid.
And I mean "home grown" not going into some over-priced solar conversion Kit that can take forever to recover losses.

And to that note, has anyone home grown a plug-in kit for their Hybrid?? I find it hard to believe it cost thousands of dollars to add a plug to a device that runs on electricity.

Any genius's out their?

 

Each battery cell will drive your car 0.015625 miles.
Each battery cell costs $12.

You need +/- $2000 of electronics to control the batteries.
You need +/- $1000 of electronics to recharge the batteries.

You need to spend a few hundred hours to invent the plug-in battery.

How far do you want to go?
That will determine the price.

Using the very accurate numbers I gave above ( based on my ACTUAL use ) you can make any size battery you want.

Prices will range from about $5000 to $50,000.

-John

 

looks like it's too much trouble than it's worth.
solar energy for a car is a great idea.
idea...

______________________________________________
bmw 750il
bmw 750il alternator

 

The problem is both weight, and the fact a car is a moving object.

Why do rockets weigh 2,000,000 pounds to put into orbit a 500 pound satellite?
It takes a lot of energy to get something moving. It takes very little to keep it moving.
Your car starts, stops, starts, stops, thus you have a lot of "launches" per day.

A car takes more wattage to drive than an entire home, even a large home, consumes.
On a home roof, you really don't care how much the solar panels weigh.
( as long as they do not fall through )

Solar for a home, with lots of square feet and low demand is viable.
Solar for a car... not currently viable.

-john