Solar Panel on Crossbars?

[HyperionMark]

Has anyone thought about or seen a solar panel attached to crossbars? One like this 550W one would be a pretty perfect size: https://a.co/d/co00hMM

Only question would be is what kind of highway wind it could handle.

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[rpo]

Not sure on the wind issue, but a 550w panel will never output its stated output. Assume 80% of that at best, so 440w max. And the charging system in the Rivian uses about 600w just to run the charging system, computers, etc (same with Tesla, so this is pretty standard for EVs). That's why the charge rate on a 120v/15amp outlet is half of the charge rate of a 120v/20amp outlet.

If you had two panels generating 440w each, you might add 1 mile of range every 4 hours. And you won't mainting 440w all day, so I'd bet you might only get 1.5 miles every 24 hours at best. And this is why putting solar on an EV to charge the EV is fairly pointless.

BUT....you could use those panels to charge a battery bank and then use that to charge the car. You might get a few miles a day into the battery that way.

 

[HyperionMark]

Not sure on the wind issue, but a 550w panel will never output its stated output. Assume 80% of that at best, so 440w max. And the charging system in the Rivian uses about 600w just to run the charging system, computers, etc (same with Tesla, so this is pretty standard for EVs). That's why the charge rate on a 120v/15amp outlet is half of the charge rate of a 120v/20amp outlet.

If you had two panels generating 440w each, you might add 1 mile of range every 4 hours. And you won't mainting 440w all day, so I'd bet you might only get 1.5 miles every 24 hours at best. And this is why putting solar on an EV to charge the EV is fairly pointless.

BUT....you could use those panels to charge a battery bank and then use that to charge the car. You might get a few miles a day into the battery that way.

Yes, I know plenty about solar. Not for charging the vehicle. Lots of uses for solar that don't include charging a vehicle. You do know a lot of people camp with these vehicles right?

 

[MacO512]

I've done work on motorhome solar and would be extremely cautious of putting a big rigid solar panel on a rivian or any vehicle. You need to anchor it super well and its a huge aero drag. 10mpg 25k lb motorhome its not as big of a deal, but a Rivian I think it would kill your range. Even more important factor is safety - if that panel flys off on the freeway it could legit kill someone. Instead if doing 100-500w or such on a rivian roof I'd use flexible panels.

Also as rpo said what are you charging with the panel? I think if you tried to charge the high voltage battery at 550w you would certainly lose more energy than the system is putting in. You either need MUCH more panels, like enough to fit on on a 30 foot motorhome, or you need to store in a battery bank then use that to charge the rivian.

If you are only charging 12v battery posters here have used little 50w panels in the dash to keep that topped off via a 3 amp trickle charger into the OBD port. That has been shown to basically eliminate vampire drain when parked and is a great solution to preserve range while camping or at an aiport /etc.

 

[MacO512]

Yes, I know plenty about solar. Not for charging the vehicle. Lots of uses for solar that don't include charging a vehicle. You do know a lot of people camp with these vehicles right?

If for camping I'd get something that can be stored in the vehicle then setup when parked. Yes maybe setup some on the roof rack. Could get 5 of these for 2000 watts https://a.co/d/0NkOxZG

 

[HyperionMark]

If for camping I'd get something that can be stored in the vehicle then setup when parked. Yes maybe setup some on the roof rack. Could get 5 of these for 2000 watts https://a.co/d/0NkOxZG

Good call. Was just hoping to use that unused space to get some juice during long drives too, or when we're at National Parks or just pulled over to eat. Plus it may even help with aerodynamics? Not sure.

 

[RedRaiderRivian]

Not sure on the wind issue, but a 550w panel will never output its stated output. Assume 80% of that at best, so 440w max. And the charging system in the Rivian uses about 600w just to run the charging system, computers, etc (same with Tesla, so this is pretty standard for EVs). That's why the charge rate on a 120v/15amp outlet is half of the charge rate of a 120v/20amp outlet.

I have two of these exact panels and often see over 500 watts per panel when I adjust the angle to the optimum during the early spring before it gets too hot. They derate in the summer over about 85 degrees air temp.

I haven't had time to build it but I have been talking about testing this exact setup charging from my Anker F2000 with external 2000 kWh battery that powers my shop. I regularly put a few kWh into my Nissan Leaf when I am over producing power.

 

[rpo]

I have two of these exact panels and often see over 500 watts per panel when I adjust the angle to the optimum during the early spring before it gets too hot. They derate in the summer over about 85 degrees air temp.

I haven't had time to build it but I have been talking about testing this exact setup charging from my Anker F2000 with external 2000 kWh battery that powers my shop. I regularly put a few kWh into my Nissan Leaf when I am over producing power.

Just curious, any idea what the charging overhead is on a Leaf? I imagine it is lower than bigger EVs since it is a "dumb" charging system. I have a Volt that seemingly uses about 150w.

 

[RedRaiderRivian]

Just curious, any idea what the charging overhead is on a Leaf? I imagine it is lower than bigger EVs since it is a "dumb" charging system. I have a Volt that seemingly uses about 150w.

It's so low that I have never worried about it over the last 5 years so I have never tested it. I mostly charge from 120v and have a Kill-a-watt meter so I could probably test it and report back next time I charge the Leaf overnight.

 

[MacO512]

Good call. Was just hoping to use that unused space to get some juice during long drives too, or when we're at National Parks or just pulled over to eat. Plus it may even help with aerodynamics? Not sure.

Oh it certainly wouln't help range, if it it did RIvian would've sold R1 with giant plastic panels on top. I'd suspect it costs about 25% of your range and with the Rivian needing to sit so long at chargers anyways would be a huge downside. Would be curious to see what that actually is if anyone tests - just please if you do test bolt down the shit out of that thing and have an extra steel cable tethered to keep it with your vehicle if it somehow flies off. Would beat the crap out of your R1 if it came off but at least that wouldn't hurt anyone bad.

 

[Proxy]

Most panels have a wind or hurricane rating. Usually more than the top speed of most Rivian’s. I would appreciate it for the shade too. I was using two similar panels hooked to an EcoFlow to charge a car when I read this post. I charge the Hyundai instead of a Rivian due to the amount of energy the Rivian uses to stay awake. If the Hyundai is full I charge a Rivian. I can add 4 miles a day to one of our Rivians in the spring. Normally the setup runs an air conditioner in the summer.

 

[HyperionMark]

Most panels have a wind or hurricane rating. Usually more than the top speed of most Rivian’s. I would appreciate it for the shade too. I was using two similar panels hooked to an EcoFlow to charge a car when I read this post. I charge the Hyundai instead of a Rivian due to the amount of energy the Rivian uses to stay awake. If the Hyundai is full I charge a Rivian. I can add 4 miles a day to one of our Rivians in the spring. Normally the setup runs an air conditioner in the summer.

Love it! Second question would be how to attach them to the crossbars.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

For trickle charging the 12V, other than potentially unsightly wiring, something like this interests me. But I have ceramic'ed PPF, so it probably wouldn't work too well without redoing the hood. https://lensunsolar.com/collections...nsun-115w-hood-solar-panel-charge-12v-battery

 

[mikehmb]

Love it! Second question would be how to attach them to the crossbars.

Those appear to be 8' long.

If you did a roof-height rack over the bed, you could really just find a secure way to strap them to the rack, but the drawbacks would, for me at least, dramatically offset the benefits. Plus roof-height racks are pricey.

I wouldn't mount solely to the racks on the R1T - too much overhang, they'd flex like crazy and catch a ton of wind.

 

[ElGuano]

BUT....you could use those panels to charge a battery bank and then use that to charge the car. You might get a few miles a day into the battery that way.

I always get my hopes up, and then reality smashes them back down. If you use solar to charge a battery bank, and then use the battery bank to charge the car, I suspect the transmission loss between solar to bank, and from bank to car, would really eat into the total energy that makes it into the battery.

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