System Overview

We’re planning on using a standard mid-sized EV - probably a Tesla Model Y. Most likely only one person will be able to travel in the vehicle. Adding a second person not only decreases storage space but also doubles the required supplies.

To maximize power output the solar panels will mounted to ultralight towers that can be unpacked and set up quickly. They will track the sun and connect to the car through an ultra efficient Level 2 charger. The current plan is for each tower to produce 1.2kW of power. So we’ll need 8 towers to produce a total of 9kW.

We’ll store most supplies, solar panels, and equipment in the back of the vehicle and then take out what we need when we stop to recharge. Additional supplies can be stored in the passenger area and potentially in a roof cargo box.

An alternate approach we’re considering is to make an ultralight streamlined trailer to store the solar panels and towers. This would simplify the deployment each day slightly. However the extra drag and weight from towing a trailer probably make it difficult to achieve our power efficiency goals using this approach.