Solar Panel on Car?

[mdoverl]

I wasn't able to find a post on this. But I've been wondering about the difficulties of installing solar panels on a car. Specifically a 2007 Toyota Prius. Has anyone tried this? I imagine one would have to be creative with installing the solar panels in a way so they are not stolen.

 

[minimotos95]

My Thule rack is holding up to two 100w panels plus some extras(mounted in a way I would not recommend to anyone). but I feel much better with rigid panels mounted like such than flexible panels close to the roof.

As for theft, there's no way to stop thieves just slow them or deter them. The furthest I would go would be large security torx bolts to secure the panel. Even with normal nuts and bolts on my panels it was a pain to get off and on with the right tools, a criminal trying to use channel locks, crescent wrenches or vise grips would likely give up or get caught in the act.
Just my $.02

 

[bullfrog]

I wonder how much it will affect your mileage? Isn't a Prius a pretty efficient generator in its self? I guess what I'm asking is would it be worth the cost?

 

[jonsun]

might better off just having a panel to sit in the sun and stored in the trunk

 

[DuneElliot]

Nate at Element Van Life on YouTube has a 100W flexible solar panel attached to the roof with VSB 3M tape. It seems to serve him well. You could probably do the same thing.

 

[John61CT]

Compared to the onboard power generation basically a panel's just a fashion accessory. People already know you're a tree-hugger (not disparaging, it's a compliment AFAIC) driving the Prius, why ruin the smooth look and airflow?

But if you must, a right-sized semi-flex panel with 2" industrial velcro, consider the car-side permanent.

3M VHB tape is excellent, but the panel won't last, and the tape's a real b!tch when you need to repeel & replace, heat gun, goof-off, likely hurt your finish.

 

[mdoverl]

Nate at Element Van Life on YouTube has a 100W flexible solar panel attached to the roof with VSB 3M tape. It seems to serve him well. You could probably do the same thing.

Im now a subscriber of element van life and love his channel, thank you. Ive decide to go with installing a roof rack, than mount a pice of sturdy ply wood and install the solar panel onto the ply wood. I need the find a generic roof rack, not the Thule type racks, something that would make it more sturdy to attach ply wood to


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[mdoverl]

My Thule rack is holding up to two 100w panels plus some extras(mounted in a way I would not recommend to anyone). but I feel much better with rigid panels mounted like such than flexible panels close to the roof.

As for theft, there's no way to stop thieves just slow them or deter them. The furthest I would go would be large security torx bolts to secure the panel. Even with normal nuts and bolts on my panels it was a pain to get off and on with the right tools, a criminal trying to use channel locks, crescent wrenches or vise grips would likely give up or get caught in the act.
Just my $.02

Wow I just realized that I started watching your YouTube channel. I was against the Thule rack at first, but if it's working for you, then I should give it a try.


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[minimotos95]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. I don't know if you saw this video where I show in detail how I have my panels mounted with 2x4s, nuts, bolts and U-bolts. definitely not the best way to do it, potentially one of the worst ways considering I used scrap lumber but I think it will work in my application, hopefully.

If I recall the Thule Squarebar racks are rated at around 150lbs so a stronger rack would be better but I am not sure how much stronger of rack you will find to fit the Prius since it doesn't have gutters like a SUV/van

 

[mdoverl]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. I don't know if you saw this video where I show in detail how I have my panels mounted with 2x4s, nuts, bolts and U-bolts. definitely not the best way to do it, potentially one of the worst ways considering I used scrap lumber but I think it will work in my application, hopefully.

If I recall the Thule Squarebar racks are rated at around 150lbs so a stronger rack would be better but I am not sure how much stronger of rack you will find to fit the Prius since it doesn't have gutters like a SUV/van

Just watched your video, but I'm having a hard time finding a squarebar roof rack for a 2007 prius, they seem to only make the aerodynamic roof racks that at first glance don't appear to have holes for for nuts and bolts. I'll have to keep digging, but your video definitely made me realize that I need a squarebar rack. Thank you so much.

 

[John61CT]

Call etrailer.com, ask for Rhino (square) or Yakima round bar (can use a cargo rack or Ubolts), they'll have off the shelf feet for your Prius.

If you don't wreck them they do have resale value.

 

[mdoverl]

Thanks for the help everyone, I'm going to hold off on the solar panels due to how expensive it will be for the setup I Want (2 310 watt renogy panels). I would be over the width limit of the vehicle by 4.9 inches according to iowa law (and then who knows what the laws are in other states). I'm allowed to have a load object hanging 6 inches past the right side of my vehicle.

For now, I'll go with the original suggestions and use the prius as a generator. I just need to sit down and figure out how much power everything I have will be using. I'll be working from the car for a remote job, so this should be interesting.

Here is a list of the electronics I'll be using:
Monitor - Input; 100-240V 1.5A Output; 12V 5A
Keyboard - 5V 100mA
Laptop - Input; 100-240V 1.5A Output; 19V 3.16A
Mouse - 5V 100mA
Xbox - Input; 100-127V Output; 150W 12V 12.1A
Phone Charger - Input; 100-240V 0.2A Output; 5V 1.2A

i can't think of any other items I'll be using, most likely a fan, but I don't have one a the moment to get voltage and amps from. I also have a small TV Antenna that I might use (I live in the city, so I don't need a large one). I'll be looking at other threads figuring out how big or many batteries I'll need, but if your faster, feel free to answer, maybe I get the math wrong

Thanks for responding everyone

 

[DuneElliot]

Thanks for the help everyone, I'm going to hold off on the solar panels due to how expensive it will be for the setup I Want (2 310 watt renogy panels). I would be over the width limit of the vehicle by 4.9 inches according to iowa law (and then who knows what the laws are in other states). I'm allowed to have a load object hanging 6 inches past the right side of my vehicle.

That's a whole lotta solar for a small operation. My 27ft RV will only have 400W solar and 400ah battery...which should be more than enough for my needs (about the same as yours).

But...better to have more solar than you need.

 

[user 37446]

Being a Prius owner this got my attention.

I admit to wondering why would you be interested in putting a panel on the roof, there's no stealth, it interferes with the air passage (wind resistance), looks ugly, is a theft potential and can't possibly recharge the main traction battery. So before posting a reply and looking more stupid than I am, I googled the question.

Interesting answer: https://electrek.co/2016/06/20/toyota-prius-plug-prime-solar-panel/  (only available in Japan and Europe, doesnt meet US crash tests for glass yet)

[font=Questrial, sans-serif]Toyota brings back the solar panel on the Plug-In Prius Prime – but now it powers the car[/font]

 

[sephiro499]

What I thought about doing was buying a flexible panel, then using around a dozen (or more) Neodymium magnets.  If you look closely on the flexible panels they have like a 1inch border.  Put the magnets around the border.  You can get something like a sunroof wind deflector if you are concerned about aerodynamics or rushing air blowing the panel off the roof.