Tesla Testing Model 3 With New Integrated Solar Panel Roof

A Tesla Model 3 has been modified with a solar roof as part of Lightyear’s solar car development program.

We have been reporting on Lightyear for a few years now.

The startup first caught our attention because it spun out of Solar Team Eindhoven, a group of engineering students from the Technical University of Eindhoven (Netherlands) who have been competing in the World Solar Challenge with their Stella and Stella Lux, energy positive solar cars — meaning that they can produce more energy than they consume.

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PUGPROUD - 6/19/2020 11:23:29 AM

0 Boost

Every car should have a solar roof panel...

SanJoseDriver - 6/19/2020 11:57:56 AM

+2 Boost

A random company is doing this, not Tesla themselves. Lightyear also sells their own car, a very expensive solar powered vehicle: https://lightyear.one/

ricks0me - 6/19/2020 5:58:48 PM

0 Boost

I always wondered why EV's do not have solar panels. SJD or MREE, can you help me out with this?

atc98092 - 6/19/2020 6:34:30 PM

+3 Boost

Simple cost/benefit analysis. For something the size of a passenger car, there's not enough space for enough solar cells to justify the cost. Under the absolute best conditions, it might add 2-3 miles of range. Not worth the multi-thousands it would cost to include with the car.

atc98092 - 6/19/2020 6:32:23 PM

+3 Boost

Come on 009, again? Read the article more closely. Other than the test car being a Model 3, Tesla has nothing to do with this. Tesla is not testing this, it's a project by Lightyear.

SanJoseDriver - 6/19/2020 9:10:33 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah, it's much more efficient to put panels on your house (or a supercharger) and charge your car off of that energy. Ford I believe had a solar truck bed at one point, it was really expensive and added 6 miles a day of range.

That being said, tech has gotten better and Tesla is planning to have a solar tonneau cover which could add 15 miles of range or so. I would put that as an optimistic option that may never see the light of day, but I would get it even if it cost a premium since I'm planning to park the truck outside and the best use case for a solar car....... camping. It would add a lot of value for renting out a cybertruck as an investment, which is what I plan to do.

t_bone - 6/20/2020 12:23:09 AM

+2 Boost

Too bad we have a whole generation out now that never got a Radio Shack toy solar kit and actually think you can get real locomotive power out of something the size of a moonroof. If you have a couple hours, though, you might charge a small RC car lipo pack.