IssacZachary
Well-known member
Doing some calculations here it seems like it would be not only possible, but actually feasible to tow around as much as a 6kW solar trailer or even more with a CHAdeMO plug. The trailer would have to fold up of course, and then be unfolded to plug in and charge. It would also have to be a huge trailer when unfolded, or possible several solar panels set onto the ground. I calculate an estimated 480 square feet of PV panels. An 8' x 20' trailer that has three stacks of solar panels could be put together. The stacks could easily slide out from each othe making a 24" x 20" panel. Or it could be folded even more. For an example 24 of 4' x 5' panels stacked on top of each other. If made thin enough, like 1/2 inch, 48 of 2' 6" x 4' panels could even fit inside the car!
Solar can be done for as little as $1 per watt or even less nowadays. I was noticing PV kits for as little as $250 per kilowatt with everything except glass and frames. If there were a cheap but sturdy solution to glass and frames, with a 1,000lb trailer only costing $250, and the CHAdeMO plug being around $1,300 this is starting to look feasible. The book to CHAdeMO protocol costs some $160. The solar cells can be arranged in a 400V DC configuration. Of course a lot of small panels would require a lot of high voltage DC connectors. But 600V DC connectors aren't that expensive actually.
Besides a cheap and lightweight glass and frame system that's foldable and able to be angled towards the Sun, what I'd also be lacking is a way to control the current and the CHAdeMO communications. Of course most of the time the solar panels will likely put out much less current than called for by the Leaf, so it may be as easy as a simple contactor that shuts off when charging voltage gets high after 80% instead of ramping down the current at that point. Then the panels can be folded up and stored away and the Leaf would have another 60 or 80 miles to go again anywhere there's sunlight. A backup generator could also be taken along on the trailer.
Solar can be done for as little as $1 per watt or even less nowadays. I was noticing PV kits for as little as $250 per kilowatt with everything except glass and frames. If there were a cheap but sturdy solution to glass and frames, with a 1,000lb trailer only costing $250, and the CHAdeMO plug being around $1,300 this is starting to look feasible. The book to CHAdeMO protocol costs some $160. The solar cells can be arranged in a 400V DC configuration. Of course a lot of small panels would require a lot of high voltage DC connectors. But 600V DC connectors aren't that expensive actually.
Besides a cheap and lightweight glass and frame system that's foldable and able to be angled towards the Sun, what I'd also be lacking is a way to control the current and the CHAdeMO communications. Of course most of the time the solar panels will likely put out much less current than called for by the Leaf, so it may be as easy as a simple contactor that shuts off when charging voltage gets high after 80% instead of ramping down the current at that point. Then the panels can be folded up and stored away and the Leaf would have another 60 or 80 miles to go again anywhere there's sunlight. A backup generator could also be taken along on the trailer.