2022 Ford Lightning

[K223]

Yes, maybe a material be part of the roof and hood as well.

The whole body should be made out of a solar skin. Charging the batteries with 3 phase 480v power lol

I just don’t know wtf is going on with the Gen 3 and why why why can’t the public know the HP/TQ numbers of this truck yet? Is Ford trying to keep potential Customers on the hook, until the truck starts being produced and let’s the cat out of the bag? Just such a delay.

 

[melvimbe]

Ha pull Into a gas station with your truck just to fill a generator in the bed to charge your truck

In seriousness though, you’d imagine at some point we will get so effective at efficiency that maybe a solar bed cover could power an electric truck. That would be pretty dope.

Don't really see that happening, even if solar gets significantly more efficient and cheaper. Power needs are increasing faster that solar efficiency, and there surely is a limit to what you can draw from the sun. And it would be rather ugly, while significantly increasing the cost of collision repairs and thus insurance. I would bet that fast charging and battery tech improved faster that solar.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a growing market for use of portal solar panel use for EVs though. Just something you can put up in the parking lot while you're at work or something.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Don't really see that happening, even if solar gets significantly more efficient and cheaper. Power needs are increasing faster that solar efficiency, and there surely is a limit to what you can draw from the sun. And it would be rather ugly, while significantly increasing the cost of collision repairs and thus insurance. I would bet that fast charging and battery tech improved faster that solar.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a growing market for use of portal solar panel use for EVs though. Just something you can put up in the parking lot while you're at work or something.

They sell those portable solar panels already, people out here use them for camping, have them sitting outside their campers/trailers aiming at the sun.

 

[K223]

Would like a couple of high power models for hurricane use.

They sell those portable solar panels already, people out here use them for camping, have them sitting outside their campers/trailers aiming at the sun.

 

[melvimbe]

They sell those portable solar panels already, people out here use them for camping, have them sitting outside their campers/trailers aiming at the sun.

Correct, but I was specifically talking about using solar to charge an EV's battery. To my knowledge, Tesla owners are setting up a solar panel area in the parking lot at work to charge up for the commute home.

As an aside, I'm a bit curious to see if you could have permanently attached solar panels along/near the back window to provide enough power to charge a secondary battery that would remain on, powering devices and such while the vehicle is off. For example, if you've got a rolling bed cover, you've got about a 12" x 55" space where you could place some panels. Not sure if that's protected enough there, and I don't know nearly enough about solar panels. Might be interesting to have a permanent powered fridge in the truck.

 

[melvimbe]

Would like a couple of high power models for hurricane use.

offtopic, but...I've thought about that, but thing is, I went through Harvey and the last winter storm without losing power at all. Perhaps it's just luck. Seems like it would make more sense for me to look at more of the low power back up solutions, for a small portable fridge and keep phones charged, rather than a whole house solution. Then, I'll atleast get some use out of it for camping and such.

 

[K223]

offtopic, but...I've thought about that, but thing is, I went through Harvey and the last winter storm without losing power at all. Perhaps it's just luck. Seems like it would make more sense for me to look at more of the low power back up solutions, for a small portable fridge and keep phones charged, rather than a whole house solution. Then, I'll atleast get some use out of it for camping and such.

True and there are smaller Genny’s, panels and battery solutions for this. Entire house is a much larger investment.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Correct, but I was specifically talking about using solar to charge an EV's battery. To my knowledge, Tesla owners are setting up a solar panel area in the parking lot at work to charge up for the commute home.

As an aside, I'm a bit curious to see if you could have permanently attached solar panels along/near the back window to provide enough power to charge a secondary battery that would remain on, powering devices and such while the vehicle is off. For example, if you've got a rolling bed cover, you've got about a 12" x 55" space where you could place some panels. Not sure if that's protected enough there, and I don't know nearly enough about solar panels. Might be interesting to have a permanent powered fridge in the truck.

Agree, the technology to install solar panels on trucks is already there, but for liability reasons and damage from flying objects like birds dropping rocks, etc, I don't see manufacturers installing these until they are bulletproof (like our sunroofs), lol. I see no reason to not install a couple of batteries in the box with solar panels attached to a box cover if you are an avid offroad camper, but for an offroad truck to do baja, probably not practical, yet.

 

[GordoJay]

A solar panel tonneau would be cool. But there's a maximum amount of energy available from the sun per square inch and you'll never get more than 100% efficiency, so it might take a while to charge up. Like weeks.

 

[matrix243]

Don't even bother talking about solar panels, unless you're talking about for emergency to be able to limp somewhere.

Pickups have the advantage of storage so I could see some kind of boost charge or secondary system either for performance or capacity/charging.