Solar tonneau cover !

[Cbowe]

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


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


This is literally the definition of hype.


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


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

I haven’t see anyone package this solution this well. It’s giving 5-6 kWh of power which is a lot for a job site camp site or existing system using the standard MC4 connectors. I like what they did and it’s something you can expand to your needs. If you were camping for a week that’s 35+ kWh of power on a well package made
In America platform. If you want to be emotionally triggered so be it man I feel for you. Truly

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[22legit2quit]

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.

What cover are you using? Or is that a trade secret. Just trying to build out something on amazon I found a decently nice set of flexible panels and inverter with a brand new hard cover for less than that. Considerably so, to be honest. Same output (claimed anyway), same sort of look. So, I’d have to put it together which I’m sure the install isn’t like adding washer fluid anyway.

It is a cool concept but we as lightning owners and the greater ev community has to demand much less price gouging out of the supporting industry. This is the market of the future, I hope that it gets a little more reasonable.

 

[Cbowe]

They make everything for the cover themselves. They already make the AL3 and AL4 folding covers in NY using aluminum from MI. The solar facility is making those covers in MO using flexible panels that come from a manufacturer in India. They arent using anyone’s else covers though or they aren’t importing covers it’s part of what we discuss is the value of US jobs and US manufacturing

 

[hturnerfamily]

I agree that a 'use of unused' space warrants a conversation by some as to what they can do with this 'power', but...

A) Having a useful area to expand any solar power input is not a novel idea, as many RV owners have been struggling with this same usage of their ROOFS for years, trying to garnish 'off-grid' power, either for direct 12v usage within the RV, when parked, or to charge the Battery Bank, for both 12v and 120v Inverter power... there are many, many, many threads for many years about the practicality, the costs, and, the reality of whether it actually works, or makes 'sense', for the equipment and cost involved.

B) If you already have a solar investment, such as at home, or on your towed RV, then adding this area for more usable power generation, might make 'cents'... doing it, though, singularly, at the pricing they have suggested, doesn't.

C) the amount of 'power' this small area can generate, even on it's best day, in the middle of summer, in clear skies, is a very low amount, compared to what it might 'seem' to be able to generate - those new to solar might not really understand the amount needed to generate enough to actually accomplish much. Power your iPhone charger? Yes. Power your 12v fridge? Maybe, for a limited time. Power your 120v device, appliance, or tool? Hardly. Yes, the battery pack you pay a hefty price for might have a 120v output outlet, but the amount of solar to 'recharge' that battery is hardly a trickle.

We used several solar panels for a short time when traveling to and thru/around and back from ALASKA, back in 2017, during the summer, in our huge motorhome. Yes, they provided to some needed 12v power to help recharge our 4) 6v batteries, wired in series and parallel, for 12v, to our 120v inverter into the motorhome, but, it was simply to allow for a few more hours, or minutes, during our parked/overnights without using the generator...

we also only needed the panels, and 12v controller, as we already had the battery and inverter equipment, of course... it would never have made since, if not...

Solar, in any form, is expensive.
Yes, if you already have a base infrastructure, it's much more cost-effective if adding additional generation(panels)... but, if starting from zero, no. At least, not for an effective 'return' on your investment, although many of us might do it, anyway, just because we can : )

 

[hturnerfamily]

also, sometimes these videos might seem to lean toward being able to 'charge your truck while traveling'... yet, that's not possible. You can't just 'plug in' some type of solar into your truck's charging system, nor can you, in the truck's current iteration, without modification and risk, even use the charge port while in gear.

as a solar power system to just generate some 12v power, for external use, such as to recharge the separate battery, yes....

 

[Cbowe]

I think this is a more elegant package than others, it’s made in America which I appreciate, I can be integrated in to an existing system or battery so I like they didn’t try and do something other than industry standard and like so many things with an EV or Solar the price starts high and often our toys can be argued on their face aren’t as cost effective or time efficient as say a lower cost gas equivalent but that’s not always the driver or use case. They pulled as much as 800w from it and 6kwh in a day so on its not nothing in the right use case and circumstances

 

[Cbowe]

also, sometimes these videos might seem to lean toward being able to 'charge your truck while traveling'... yet, that's not possible. You can't just 'plug in' some type of solar into your truck's charging system, nor can you, in the truck's current iteration, without modification and risk, even use the charge port while in gear.

as a solar power system to just generate some 12v power, for external use, such as to recharge the separate battery, yes....

It’s definitely not that although we do discuss it some. Martin from Martin Rebuilds who is also part of our podcast has been doing that with a gas generator and his Everdrive system

 

[22legit2quit]

I think this is a more elegant package than others, it’s made in America which I appreciate, I can be integrated in to an existing system or battery so I like they didn’t try and do something other than industry standard and like so many things with an EV or Solar the price starts high and often our toys can be argued on their face aren’t as cost effective or time efficient as say a lower cost gas equivalent but that’s not always the driver or use case. They pulled as much as 800w from it and 6kwh in a day so on its not nothing in the right use case and circumstances

I like how “made in America” is more assembled in America. I too know how to use shrink-wrap and other adhesives on Chinese wiring.

I doubt this will be a moneymaker for your company but I hope your price point changes to where you’re not trying to hit a home run with this.

 

[RickLightning]

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


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


This is literally the definition of hype.


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


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

Well said. $2,000 for 600watts is laughable.

But if I pee enough in the ocean, it may not make sea level rise, but it does cause global warming...

 

[RickLightning]

This ad should be in the Marketplace, or in the Vendor section.

 

[All-Terrain]

It's definitely enough for most 12v loads though, overkill really unless you're running a fridge, and, uhhh. I can't think of too many other things. Maybe if you had electric camp cooking stuff like Stoke Voltaics and didn't want to user the pro power for that. Though with all that stuff you'd probably want a full topper not a tonneau. But if oyu had an ICE truck and wanted to keep a 12v battery charged it would be great. Though expensive...

 

[bmwhitetx]

I disagree with the video thumbnail that says "Free Power". As stated, there is a significant incremental cost over a regular tonneau. Solar is only truly free after the payback period, which may be longer than you will own the truck.

It is a niche use and using existing space is indeed a plus, but it isn't free energy. You should say convenient, somewhat expensive, energy.

 

[Cbowe]

I like how “made in America” is more assembled in America. I too know how to use shrink-wrap and other adhesives on Chinese wiring.

I doubt this will be a moneymaker for your company but I hope your price point changes to where you’re not trying to hit a home run with this.

To be clear it’s not my company we just do the podcast and had them on. With that said if you watch, 90% is made in the US right down to the aluminum from MI, paint in TN, stamping and manufacturing in NY for the Tonneau and MO for the new Solar cover products. The flexible panels themselves comes from India and are very high quality not Cheap ones made from China. These details are why I do support and like the company and what they are doing for American jobs

 

[Cbowe]

I disagree with the video thumbnail that says "Free Power". As stated, there is a significant incremental cost over a regular tonneau. Solar is only truly free after the payback period, which may be longer than you will own the truck.

It is a niche use and using existing space is indeed a plus, but it isn't free energy. You should say convenient, somewhat expensive, energy.

Fair enough

 

[Cbowe]

Well said. $2,000 for 600watts is laughable.

But if I pee enough in the ocean, it may not make sea level rise, but it does cause global warming...

Half that cost is what you’d pay for a cover anyway so it’s exaggerated to say $2k for 600w and it’s 5kwh a day and that’s day one starting price I’m sure as it scales it will come down. Seems a bit harsh to me everyone is entitled to their opinion I’m just sharing something we thought was cool and well designed

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