Solar tonneau cover !

[Cbowe]

Today on the Turn Down for Watt Podcast, we talk with Steven Rossi, CEO of Worksport about their new Solis + COR platform, which brings real, usable solar power to your truck. This isn’t hype, it’s real engineering, manufacturing, and innovation happening here in the USA, creating new capabilities for Ford

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[Runaway Tractor]

Clickbait junk. They did not magically create some new solar technology that the rest of the world doesn't know about. Solar panels on a tonneau cover are a glorified cell phone charger. The scale of solar power required to provide meaningful power to the vehicle battery would require you to tow a house behind you.

 

[chriserx]

Solar power is generally limited to 1kw per square meter because that's the average level of irradiance on earth. A short bed tonneau is roughly 1.7 meters squared, so the theoretical maximum output is 1700W. Now you factor in efficiencies, like the cell itself (18-25%, or even optimistic research labs of 35% to nearly 50%), inverter efficiencies (80-95%). There are other variables involved such as wiring losses and voltage synergies, but bottom line, in the real world, best case you're looking at 400W. Not nothing, but then you have to look at weather, subjection to road hazards, constant wind speed, uneven roads, those tolerances have an efficiency cost as well. I'm all for the experimentation, just don't get your hopes up.

 

[Cbowe]

Solar power is generally limited to 1kw per square meter because that's the average level of irradiance on earth. A short bed tonneau is roughly 1.7 meters squared, so the theoretical maximum output is 1700W. Now you factor in efficiencies, like the cell itself (18-25%, or even optimistic research labs of 35% to nearly 50%), inverter efficiencies (80-95%). There are other variables involved such as wiring losses and voltage synergies, but bottom line, in the real world, best case you're looking at 400W. Not nothing, but then you have to look at weather, subjection to road hazards, constant wind speed, uneven roads, those tolerances have an efficiency cost as well. I'm all for the experimentation, just don't get your hopes up.

Yeah that makes sense. They have it rated at 600w and on the podcast said they were getting as much as 800w peak. I don’t have any illusion it would be used to charge the truck it’s more of a complimentary system and fun use of dead space on the truck that I like the concept of.

 

[Cbowe]

Clickbait junk. They did not magically create some new solar technology that the rest of the world doesn't know about. Solar panels on a tonneau cover are a glorified cell phone charger. The scale of solar power required to provide meaningful power to the vehicle battery would require you to a house behind you.

Woah settle down Billy nobody said you’d charge your battery with it. You obviously didn’t watch the podcast. Getting a little in your feelings there yelling about apples as we talk about oranges. Goodness man hope your day gets better lol

 

[chriserx]

Yeah that makes sense. They have it rated at 600w and on the podcast said they were getting as much as 800w peak. I don’t have any illustrations it would be used to charge the truck it’s more of a complimentary system and fun use of dead space on the truck that I like the concept of.

600-800 rating would mean they are testing on a long box. I didn't actually watch the video, generally I don't anyway, everyone takes too long to get to the point. As my post suggests, myself included.

 

[Cbowe]

I loved the breakdown but I maybe should have clarified how they got the 800w result

 

[chriserx]

When I had my flexible panels on my cargo trailer, 24x100W they routinely generated low 3000s and a peak of 3800 IIRC, so 800 on a long bed is not unreasonable, but not exactly realistic (or reliable) either.

 

[Runaway Tractor]

Woah settle down Billy nobody said you’d charge your battery with it. You obviously didn’t watch the podcast. Getting a little in your feelings there yelling about apples as we talk about oranges. Goodness man hope your day gets better lol

No didn't watch the video. Because your own description of it was clickbait nonsense. I will explain in detail if you'd like.

...which brings real, usable solar power to your truck.

No it doesn't. Just like peeing in the ocean does not bring real usable rise in sea level.

This isn’t hype

This is literally the definition of hype.

it’s real engineering, manufacturing, and innovation

There's nothing innovative about small poorly angled low power solar panels.

creating new capabilities for Ford

This has created no new capabilities for Ford or anyone else. It's a gimmick. Ford doesn't use it.

 

[Zprime29]

I've been contemplating something similar for a while. Solar on the tonneau cover makes sense in the use case where you are just trying to charge a small battery for small electronics. Yes, we have pro power, so it seems like over kill. I like tinkering and learning and will probably attempt something in the future just because it sounds fun to me. Would be neat to have some fold out panels that act as a canopy while camping. Charge a small battery to use for hot water kettles, air fryer, etc... and use the truck as back up if it's too cloudy. May not be the smartest or most economic way to go about things but I'm interested just for the "can I do it" aspect.

 

[22legit2quit]

Neat concept and a good use of the space.

1. They are smoking crack with the price. I went to the website and just the cover is 2299, which is my understanding that you’ll need another 1000 or so in battery, inverter and wiring. So that’s a quick nonstarter.

2. They seem to be almost presales or prerevenue so I’d like this to go awhile and see if real world versus wherever they test this stuff makes a difference. Judging by the price I’m sure I’ll have to wait for enough people to get their tax refunds back.

3. Why is it always like this? I appreciate that their ads on the website and even the video feature non electric only options as they’ll probably sell more to normal owners who might have a prevailing battery load to charge or the extreme tailgater. But why is it always like this? Why do they bring a shiny object like this that most of us would jump on just at the possibility that it would add range for less pain? I’m not really sure what the answer is but if you were to cover the entire usable part of the vehicle with a solar array you may get lucky enough to get 2000-3000 watts peak but at what cost? If it were financially sound everyone would be a rolling solar farm. Even in the heat of the day you barely generate enough to putter around the city.

Sorry, I do really like the concept but it is clickbait and the podcast was pretty cheesy.

 

[WillGrey1907]

As I see it, this innovative solar tonneau cover is for a specific use-case scenario such as charging off-grid and not wanting to use Pro Power, just not for the average(?) F-150 Lightning owner.

 

[Cbowe]

I've been contemplating something similar for a while. Solar on the tonneau cover makes sense in the use case where you are just trying to charge a small battery for small electronics. Yes, we have pro power, so it seems like over kill. I like tinkering and learning and will probably attempt something in the future just because it sounds fun to me. Would be neat to have some fold out panels that act as a canopy while camping. Charge a small battery to use for hot water kettles, air fryer, etc... and use the truck as back up if it's too cloudy. May not be the smartest or most economic way to go about things but I'm interested just for the "can I do it" aspect.

This is exactly what it’s for and it uses the standard MC4 connector so you can feed power to an existing battery system or add theirs. It’s a interesting use of the unused space on the cover

 

[Cbowe]

As I see it, this innovative solar tonneau cover is for a specific use-case scenario such as charging off-grid and not wanting to use Pro Power, just not for the average(?) F-150 Lightning owner.

Yeah or to not drain your battery as much at a site or add to an RV or trailer array that has the standard MC4 connector inputs. Just a cool use of the space

 

[Cbowe]

Neat concept and a good use of the space.

1. They are smoking crack with the price. I went to the website and just the cover is 2299, which is my understanding that you’ll need another 1000 or so in battery, inverter and wiring. So that’s a quick nonstarter.

2. They seem to be almost presales or prerevenue so I’d like this to go awhile and see if real world versus wherever they test this stuff makes a difference. Judging by the price I’m sure I’ll have to wait for enough people to get their tax refunds back.

3. Why is it always like this? I appreciate that their ads on the website and even the video feature non electric only options as they’ll probably sell more to normal owners who might have a prevailing battery load to charge or the extreme tailgater. But why is it always like this? Why do they bring a shiny object like this that most of us would jump on just at the possibility that it would add range for less pain? I’m not really sure what the answer is but if you were to cover the entire usable part of the vehicle with a solar array you may get lucky enough to get 2000-3000 watts peak but at what cost? If it were financially sound everyone would be a rolling solar farm. Even in the heat of the day you barely generate enough to putter around the city.

Sorry, I do really like the concept but it is clickbait and the podcast was pretty cheesy.

The price is $2000 which the normal cover itself is half that and it’s works with an existing battery or system like on an RV or trailer that has the MC4 connector inputs. Anytime something is new it’s the most costly. I don’t feel we are intentionally cheesy we are genuine in what we say and discuss on the podcast but I’ll take the feedback.

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