this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2023
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Yeah, unless there's huge advances in solar panel efficiency and weight, it's probably better to focus on smart charging off static solar panels, even though it would be cool to own a car that just charges itself one day.
Companies like Aptera will need to find a niche use case where solar makes more sense than plugging in at home. I guess it would be useful for people that only have on street parking available to them?
Oh yeah it would definitely be cool to have a car powered by onboard solar panels, but I don't think that's ever going to be viable where I live. I'm getting a whooping 0.3kWh-1.5kWh of production per day at the moment on my 11.4kWp installation.
They're actually trying to do just that. Aptera developed their own solar panel assembly and charge controller to go in the car. It's designed to be super light weight and durable.
Also yes, plugging at home is not a valid option for many Americans. Even fewer can afford solar panels at home.