Hi Jack, I once did a comparison once between the energy input from a solar panel and the requirements of a 50HP electric motor. With one HP = 746 watts, it takes a LOT of solar power to move a vehicle the size of a westy. IF you could get by with a 50HP motor to push your vehicle I would expect about 25-30 minutes of operation for each WEEK spent charging the batteries. If you factor in the losses created by the aerodynamic drag caused by the solar panel it would probably come out equal. In short: NO. Happy Trails, Greg Potts 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato" 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop www.busesofthecorn.com www.pottsfamily.ca
Jack R. wrote: > Would there be a cost / range benefit to add a large solar panel to your > roof? y |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.