- DartSolar wants to sell you an expandable solar array for your EV.
- The Los Angeles-based startup claims the six-panel setup can add up to 20 miles of range per day.
- That's just from sitting outside in the sun.
The name “Aptera” might ring a bell if you’ve been following the electric vehicle space for the past couple of years. The California-based startup has been working on a commercial solar EV or SEV for some time now. Its three-wheeled car is covered with solar panels that could, in theory, replenish the battery to offer up to 30 miles of driving range per day, for free.
That car, however, still seems like a distant dream, despite its makers claiming it will be ready for prime time “soon.” That said, it’s an interesting proposition, and now there’s another startup promising to harness the power of the sun to power an EV. Any EV, in this case.
Los Angeles-based DartSolar put together an expanding solar roof rack that could be fitted to any battery-powered car on the road, boosting its range while the owner is out shopping or chilling on the beach.
The setup includes six low-profile photovoltaic panels, each with a rated power of 160 watts. This means the total power rating is 960 watts, but it’s up to the owner to choose how much juice they need. In its fully closed position, just two panels are exposed to the sun, which means a maximum of 320 W can be produced. This layout can reportedly be used all the time, including while driving.
If more power is needed, the other four panels are on sliders and the array can be expanded–two in the front and two in the back. The panels are fitted to a lightweight aluminum frame and the whole thing, including the roof bars, weighs 87 pounds.
So how does this invention send power to the car’s battery? Well, it’s simple: the solar array is connected to an external power pack–in one of the promo videos, it looks suspiciously like an EcoFlow Delta. Then, using a Level 1 or Level 2 EV charger, the owner can transfer power from the mobile battery to the car’s battery.
DartSolar says its setup works with any battery backup brand, which is not exactly surprising, seeing how DIY-ers around the world have been using similar setups for off-grid power use in remote locations for years.
The startup claims its system can add anywhere from 10 to 20 miles of range per day to any EV, seeing how it estimates a total energy output of around 5 kWh per day. The kit includes 3D printable parts and stainless steel telescopic tubes, and the expected lifetime of the whole thing is over 10 years.
The full price, including the backup battery, is $3,450. However, the startup has an early-bird promotion where potential customers can reserve the setup for a refundable fee of $99 and then pay another $2,950 when the product is ready to ship next year. DartSolar also says that some customers might be eligible for a 30% rebate in the form of tax credits.
