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The Class C SOLAR motorhome from Europe

Trackrig
Explorer II
Explorer II
While the chassis is designed to have up to a 174 mile range, they're saying the MH version will only have a 100 mile range due to the added weight. It's powered by a 228-Ah sodium-nickle-cloride battery.

It also says it has 334 sq ft of thin-film solar panels on the exterior for 3,000 watts of solar, but I don't know how you could get all of them into the sunlight at one time?

Clicky
Bill
Nodwell RN110 out moose hunting. 4-53 Detroit, Clark 5 spd, 40" wide tracks, 10:00x20 tires, 16,000# capacity, 22,000# weight. You know the mud is getting deep when it's coming in the doors.
11 REPLIES 11

ctilsie242
Explorer II
Explorer II
All those solar panels won't bring in squat. The ones on the side bring in substationally less power than rooftop ones. Even with all those, it still can't run an A/C, much less get enough power to spin the driveshaft past the torque converter.

I've wondered why RV makers don't do something more practical: Awnings on four sides with flexible solar panels on each. That would bring in a lot more electricity than slapping panels on the sides. It definitely would not move the vehicle, but would allow for 1000-1500 watts of solar at least, which won't run an A/C, but could help with a microwave or kitchen appliances.

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
3kw of solar panels is about 4hp. That's in ideal conditions.

Ideal conditions for stationary panels is typically 4-5hr per day.

107hp is about 82kw. 3kw x 4hr= 12kwh or a little less than 9 minutes at the rated power (which isn't that much)

But wait, I'll give you dollars for dougnuts that the 3000w of panels includes the official rating of all the panels. In reality you will be lucky to get half the panels in the sunlight. Seriously, look at the bottom one on the front overhang. It's aimed down at the ground. So give them a generous 50% rating and you are down to about 4.5min per day at the rated power. Assuming you push it down a hill to get it started, you've got maybe 4 miles of range per day under solar.

Hope you don't camp in a forested area. Just a single branch shading a panel can kill all of it's output.

I also like how they claim it's eco friendly because the black sides absorb heat when it's above 79F. Most RV's are hot boxes when it gets into the 80's cooling is much more important.

Why do the proponents always over promise and then look like idiots? It turns people off from viable technologies. Used appropriately, solar and batteries can do good things and you can make RV's more efficient but this is a total joke.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

rjstractor
Nomad
Nomad
It is a step in the right direction, but I notice that the web article implies that the 3KW of solar is adequate for charging the EV batteries. Maybe if you are ok with driving 100 miles and waiting for 2 weeks of steady sun so you can drive home. It would be much more practical if they made it a plugin EV-hybrid like the Chevy Volt. With no hybrid component you would be totally dependent on plugging it in at every campsite.
2017 VW Golf Alltrack
2000 Ford F250 7.3

Photomike
Explorer III
Explorer III
This is my dream vehicle 100% self contained BUT they need to work on so many things about it before it becomes practical. Nice to see a step in the right direction.

We have a local guy that has a cub van with panels on the roof and both sides. I think he lives in it but I have yet to see him when I have time to talk.
2017 Ford Transit
EVO Electric bike
Advanced Elements Kayaks

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
SidecarFlip wrote:
punomatic wrote:
SidecarFlip wrote:
Just the ticket to go to the local campground or go 'cross country' 100 miles a day...
You wouldn't ever have to worry about driving for too long on any given day.


Fair statement but, Imagine being in a traffic jam and running out of juice.... Bad ju-ju...

Still fugly.

Not only that has anyone thought of the what Rocks and dirt would do the panels?

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
punomatic wrote:
SidecarFlip wrote:
Just the ticket to go to the local campground or go 'cross country' 100 miles a day...
You wouldn't ever have to worry about driving for too long on any given day.


Fair statement but, Imagine being in a traffic jam and running out of juice.... Bad ju-ju...

Still fugly.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

punomatic
Explorer
Explorer
SidecarFlip wrote:
Just the ticket to go to the local campground or go 'cross country' 100 miles a day...
You wouldn't ever have to worry about driving for too long on any given day.
DW and Me
2016 Riverside White Water Retro 195
2014 Nissan Titan SL Crew Cab
Formerly, I used to work for the department of redundancy department.


Life in Black and Blue

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
Just the ticket to go to the local campground or go 'cross country' 100 miles a day...
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
and.... It's butt ugly to boot. Reminds me of a kitchen tile floor but vertical.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
That is very cool!

Here's the battery specs. Very different chemistry from Li RV batteries. I really like seeing battery technology getting more and more robust.

228ah seems very, very low for this application. I suppose the solar would be counted on for support. I carry a 100ah 48v pack and it's not very big or heavy.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
Thank you for sharing.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad