I'm not an electrical engineer, but I don't think you need a massive solar array OR high voltage panels OR additional batteries (your car already has the battery built-in). All you need is a single 12V panel and a boost MPPT charge controller. Genasun makes one that, in theory, should work with things like e-bikes: http://genasun.com/all-products/sola...st-controller/
I think the problem is that electric cars use very high voltage and equivalent boost MPPT charge controllers for those specific voltages just simply do not exist. Also, you'd need to satisfy whatever crazy charge protocols modern electric cars use between the smart charger and the car. For example, I know my ebike communicates with the charger via a third wire. I think they did that to save weight. Maybe some parts of the battery management system live in the charger, not the battery? I don't know. But I'm betting electric cars are similarly annoying to work with.
In short, you'd need to engineer the **** out of it.
** Yes, with a single panel, your charge time would probably be measured in months or something, but the point is that it could be done, it just hasn't been done YET.
*** Also, I think the reason why it hasn't been done yet is because, unlike OP and I, most people drive their vehicle daily. I think it's just a supply and demand thing. This idea is appealing to me too because I don't drive my vehicle more than once or twice a week, if that.
I think the problem is that electric cars use very high voltage and equivalent boost MPPT charge controllers for those specific voltages just simply do not exist. Also, you'd need to satisfy whatever crazy charge protocols modern electric cars use between the smart charger and the car. For example, I know my ebike communicates with the charger via a third wire. I think they did that to save weight. Maybe some parts of the battery management system live in the charger, not the battery? I don't know. But I'm betting electric cars are similarly annoying to work with.
In short, you'd need to engineer the **** out of it.
** Yes, with a single panel, your charge time would probably be measured in months or something, but the point is that it could be done, it just hasn't been done YET.
*** Also, I think the reason why it hasn't been done yet is because, unlike OP and I, most people drive their vehicle daily. I think it's just a supply and demand thing. This idea is appealing to me too because I don't drive my vehicle more than once or twice a week, if that.
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