Automotive

Rooftop EV solar box unravels to 6x its size, charging car off-grid

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GoSun's EV Solar Charger expands by six times to provide a meaningful charge and range boost while the car is parked
GoSun
GoSun's EV Solar Charger expands by six times to provide a meaningful charge and range boost while the car is parked
GoSun
Beyond just electrical vehicles, an expandable rooftop solar box could be useful for others, including RVers ... so long as you could find room amidst the skylights, air conditioners, roof racks, rooftop tents, cargo boxes, etc.
GoSun
While it doesn't look all too tidy, the GoSun system does keep the panels close to the vehicle's footprint and within the standard parking space, unlike other ground or extendable setups
GoSun
The EV Solar Charger measures 5 in tall and was designed to be as aerodynamic as possible
GoSun
Even when folded and closed back up, the EV Solar Charger continues to offer up to 200 watts of charging
GoSun
Simply unfold the GoSun panels and multiply your solar charging from 200 to 1,200 watts
GoSun
The 120-V GoSun plug secures directly to the EV's charging port
GoSun
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From humble beginnings as the solar hot dog cooker guys, all the way through to full-blown solarized camping trailers and tiny homes, GoSun has developed a knack for creating unique products that put the sun's power to work here on Earth. Its newest product promises to be its most revolutionary yet, providing an off-grid means of charging electric vehicles, both on the move and when parked. By opening up and unfurling the solar panels down the car's windshield, hood and trunk, the system multiplies charging power sixfold, providing a discernible in-field range boost without having to so much as look at a charging station or electrical socket.

GoSun's marketing team didn't strain their brains too far in naming the EV Solar Charger, but luckily its design team put in some extra work. The 70-lb (32-kg) 5-in-tall (12.7-cm) box sits atop the vehicle like a particularly slim rooftop cargo box, its own roof covered in 200 watts of solar panels.

The EV Solar Charger measures 5 in tall and was designed to be as aerodynamic as possible
GoSun

At this point, the GoSun's charger box offers about as much capacity as the type of solar array that might come standard on an RV – enough to help charge a leisure battery while parked but not enough to put a dent in a large lithium traction battery.

That's okay, though – while the 200-W panel spread does provide some nominal charging while driving, the real magic comes when parked. The driver pops open the box and unfolds a scroll-like array of solar panels down the front and back of the vehicle, upping total available output to 1,200 watts once the box is secured back into closed position. Plug the 120-V output cable directly into the car's charging port and it'll deliver Level 1 charging straight from the sun. GoSun says the panels are designed to stay deployed through winds up to 30 mph (50 km/h), while the closed box is built for highway speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h).

While it doesn't look all too tidy, the GoSun system does keep the panels close to the vehicle's footprint and within the standard parking space, unlike other ground or extendable setups
GoSun

The EV Solar Charger box won't exactly replace an ultrafast charger, and GoSun estimates a daily range boost of up to 30 miles (50 km) in the right conditions. More likely, it says, you'll gain about 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) on your average day. Still, those miles are added while the car is just parked at work or home and not otherwise charging, so it's certainly better than no miles at all. If your daily roundtrip is in that 10- to 30-mile range, then you could potentially meet your daily charging needs from solar power alone.

The GoSun EV charger isn't exactly the cleanest-looking solution, what with loose panels dangling all over the place, but it does provide a secondary benefit in shading the windshield and rear window from the sun, helping to keep the interior cooler on hot days. That could even boost efficiency a touch more, cutting the driver's reliance on air conditioning.

Beyond just electrical vehicles, an expandable rooftop solar box could be useful for others, including RVers ... so long as you could find room amidst the skylights, air conditioners, roof racks, rooftop tents, cargo boxes, etc.
GoSun

Of course, while the actual solar power is free and out there for the taking, the EV Solar Charger system will cost a pretty penny up front. It's currently available for preorder, and GoSun estimates retail pricing at $2,999. It says the system might be eligible for a 30% US tax credit, presumably through the federal government's Residential Clean Energy Credit that covers additions like home solar and battery storage systems. In that case, you'd have to integrate it into your home energy system; more information is available from the IRS.

GoSun plans to begin shipping preassembled EV Solar Chargers to buyers in 2025 so the system only requires a quick 20-minute mounting process for end users. The company says the system is meant to remain on full-time but can be removed easily when necessary.

If you're wondering what life will look like using a car-top solar blanket, check out the quick promo below.

Source: GoSun

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14 comments
Ranscapture
I would love this, I have to park in the sun every day for work and the AC drain really kills my battery. But the price won’t be worth it for me. If it was a few hundred it’s pay for itself in two years, because I use free chargers 99% of the time and electricity is usually quite cheap. $3k won’t ever pay for itself, but is very useful for living off grid. I do wonder about the wind resistance, since electric cars are already bad at fast speeds, this’ll make them even worse, possibly canceling out any gains if not charging for at least a few hours and driving over 45mph.
Ranscapture
Now if they could replace the heavy glass roof with a smooth curved solar panel that can be pulled down over the windshield like a cover when you’re parked, and it integrates with the battery to charge while driving as opposed to needing plugged in, then I’ll buy this right away. Oh also make the frunk hood solar. It’s already super light weight nothing. Put it to use.
SteveMc
$3K plus the not so low cost for the roof bars, for an ugly, wind resistant add-on for your vehicle. At three large ones value, how theft proof is it, really I mean, not just a token lock. There is no way it can be windproof, especially if standing on a parking lot with no other vehicles alongside to help block gusts. Flat panels are kites waiting to fly, or merely twist and break the already folding connections between the panels. If you think this the answer for running your air-con for cab cooling while parked, crack your windows open slightly and get a proper sun reflector, because black just doesn't do it, however much you want it to.
clay
1200 watts for $3000 dollars. In an era when PV panels are selling for well under $1 watt? I am not sure this is a bargain. It's a good idea for those who do not park in a garage though I wonder: how do they combat scratching the paint whenever the wind blows? I mean, even car covers scratch paint when left on (outside) for any length of time. It will be interesting to see how they address and mitigate this problem.
Skeptic
And how long to fully charge your vehicle?
guzmanchinky
Keeps the car in the shade and adds some miles at the same time. Perfect. Pricey, though...
JS
it'd be pretty cool if the top box had an internal large battery systemcontained within so that while you're not actively charging your EV, it could be charging up its internal battery allowing you to dump all that power DC to DC into your car when you plug it in instead of just being a paper weight.

@ skeptic, i have 800watts on my RV. my stats for the last 17 months are 401.8kWh of energy harvested from the sun...enough to fully charge four tesla model S p100 cars. granted, that's how much energy my 400 Ah lifepo4 battery has allowed to be put into em, as my panels stop harvesting sun power when my batteries are full (which is pretty much every day by noon).

i spent roughly US$500 on solar panels, $250 on controllers (i have two PV arrays on my rig), $1400 on battery, and another $150 or so on wiring and connectors. So $3k ain't terrible on a 1200w solar setup...if it indeed only has a 120v connector on it, i'm guessing it has a micro inverter in it. great for solar peak hours, but useless otherwise.
Korina57
In any major city it will be stolen quicker than the 20 minute install time. Just keeping it real.
Rusty
Stolen off your vehicle if you park in a city environment in 3...2...1...
ljaques
@skeptic "How long to fully charge your vehicle?" Model 3 came in 57.5, 79 or 82 kWh battery sizes.
Charging from 5% to 100% could take up to 26 days for a Model 3 with the 82kWh battery, but that would be with NO shading/clouds/overcast during the entire cycle in Phoenix.
Don't waste your money, folks.