This Solar-Powered RV Runs Without Fuel Or Charging Stations

[Naio]

Link.

[valhalla360]

MrWizard wrote:
electric motor 107hp = 79,822w = 79.82KW
peak power to get it moving or accelerate
how much power is needed to keep it moving ? not full power
I made some rough assumptions about dimensions and weight and plugged it into a HP calculator. It will take pretty much everything to make 65mp. Even if my assumptions are off a bit, it's still going to be running at 80-90% of max output to maintain freeway speeds.

With EV, you have a ton of low end torque, so they usually set the HP based on what is needed to maintain speed unlike with an ICE where the engine is selected primarily on acceleration.

and i doubt the A/C will be needed in much of Europe
Germany France, Belgum, Austria, Britain, Spain
Have you been to Spain or the South of France? We had a boat south of Barcelona for a couple of years and in the summer it could be killer hot.
Also, with an all black exterior soaking up the sun, I'm betting it will get uncomfortably warm in many of those northern European locations.

yes this is a Concept vehicle, but within possibility for use over there
where the camping style is much different, and more like camping 'used to be' here, but no longer is here

more time time outside, on average much shorter travel distances

not for touring the USA, but to go 40KM from home to the lake for weekend outing, or a week long holiday

Have you been over there camping? We have and 24 miles is really underestimating the local conditions. For some of the major cities, just getting to the other side of the city can eat up that many miles. If someone just wants to go out to the same lake every weekend, they will typically get a caravan and a seasonal site. People buying motorhomes are typically covering decent miles on their trips.

On the positive side, with the small diesels, we've averaged 30-33MPG with the rental units we've had, so fuel cost even with the crazy per gallon prices isn't a big consideration. Think about it, if your 24miles is right, you are only going to use around 1.5gal per weekend. Assuming 20 weekends per year, that's only 30gal per year...really not worth the trouble.

[mike-s]

Naio wrote:
I agree it's just a concept -- and that we are getting there!
...
Solar cells will become more efficient, so will drivetrains.

Solar cells are already at ~20% efficiency. So in this case some future, perfect ones would provide 20 kW. The camper needs 60 kW to move at a reasonable speed. But there's much less efficiency to be gained there - most of the power is for frictional losses (aerodynamics, etc.).

Want a solar powered vehicle? This is what works:

Not a very reasonable RV.

Perhaps they should mount a wind-power generator on the top. Perpetual motion, FTW!

[ctilsie242]

I have seen this Euro camper on Facebook on and off. I am not impressed by it. The fact that it has vertical solar panels means that they don't catch much light in anywhere but the desert where there are no obstructions around.

Instead of tossing fragile panels everywhere, if I wanted a significant amount of solar coming in, I would have a few on the ceiling, but would have a dedicated trailer that would have some panels and a scaffold frame to put them in, so I can move the panels to face the sun.

[bukhrn]

kerrlakeRoo wrote:
I'm imagining the cost to repair after a parking lot ding in the wrong spot, or one time of being forced to detour onto a dirt road.

That's along the lines I was thinking in also, how much damage would a simple stone hitting one of the panels cause, or hitting a crow with the top panel on the overhang at 55 mph.
Also what's the price tag on this thing going to be.

[Naio]

I agree it's just a concept -- and that we are getting there!

I think we have seen a rig where the awning is a tilt up side panel, covered with solar cells. That makes more sense to me. With a tough plastic cover for drive time 🙂

Solar cells will become more efficient, so will drivetrains.

Pretty soon retirees will all be buzzing around in solar rvs with optional autopilot at the flick of a switch.

[MrWizard]

electric motor 107hp = 79,822w = 79.82KW
peak power to get it moving or accelerate
how much power is needed to keep it moving ? not full power
and i doubt the A/C will be needed in much of Europe
Germany France, Belgum, Austria, Britain, Spain

yes this is a Concept vehicle, but within possibility for use over there
where the camping style is much different, and more like camping 'used to be' here, but no longer is here

more time time outside, on average much shorter travel distances

not for touring the USA, but to go 40KM from home to the lake for weekend outing, or a week long holiday

[Lwiddis]

“There is no indication anyone gave this idea any thought”

Yes, this won’t fully recharge but it’s a start, an idea, an attempt such as many concept cars. Don’t denigrate idea people such as those that said man could go to the moon...lots of failures “without any thought”... Would you have even tried? Or remained in the peanut gallery?

[mike-s]

The marketing guys wanted a showcase. The engineers told them to put their panels where the sun don't shine. They did.

[valhalla360]

So what's the output of the panels on the bottom side of the overhang. How often does the sun shine from below?

To those saying we are getting there...no we really aren't.

This unit is unlikely to generate anything close to 3kw as all the panels won't be producing at the same time (they will be lucky to get 50% of the rated output) but let's pretend it really can....

Typically you assume about 4hr at the rated output per day so about 12kw-
h per day.

That means the 91kwh or about 8 days to recharge with solar. That assumes you don't try to run anything else that consumes battery power.

This of course assumes you don't park in a shady spot...oh black panels heat up nicely in the sun so you are going to be eating up around 1500w for at least 8hr per day to run the air/con to keep it tolerably cool inside...oops, you just ate up the 12kw-h the panels generate.

There is no indication anyone gave this idea any thought. They just said plaster it with solar panels and claim it's eco-friendly.

[Trekkar]

Maybe not today, but getting there.

[Lwiddis]

That’s a long day, tuna.

[pianotuna]

Hi Naio,

Mine too!

The "house" battery is 300 amp-hours @ 24 volts or 7200 watt-hours.

Your AGM's may only be 50% of 500 X 12 volts or 3000 watt-hours.

My AGM bank is about the same as yours.

Naio wrote:


Driving 100 miles every 3 days while boondocking, with some nights at electric sites, is about my speed!

I would certainly bring along my current 500 ah of agms, though.

[rexlion]

And don't forget to account for the shadows cast on the panels every time this thing drives past a tree or three.

[Naio]

Ah, yeah, you are probably right!