Renewable Energy
Solar PV on a Car’s Roof
If:
The area of this Tesla’s roof is 2 square meters (being generous),
The efficiency of the panels is 25%,
The capacity factor of solar (depending on your location) is 20%,
The sun’s irradiance is 1000 watts per square meter,
The Tesla’s battery capacity is 100 KWhrs,
And we neglect the increased weight and drag of the array,
We’re talking about 100 hours, more than 4 days.
Doesn’t sound like a bargain, especially considering that if you overbuild the solar array on your roof and charge your car in your garage, you’ve achieved the same goal at far less expense and inconvenience.