I’m a little thrown by “20% efficient” when paired with “allows 94% of solar energy to pass through.” Are they saying it captures 20% of 6%, i.e., 1.2% of the incident solar energy? Or are they saying 20% is captured and 94% passes through for a total energy recovery of 114%? (This latter is not physically possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s not what they’re saying.)
Basically I would rather they listed the power output of the solar system in Watts.
94% makes it to the solar capture, which is 20% efficient. So 20% of 94%. Bear in mind these are laboratory numbers, not real world. No one will ever get that in the real world.
So using their numbers of 11 square meters at 1000w/sqm, and 18.2% efficiency would mean 2002w nominal assuming the entire car is illuminated. Multiply that by 4*365 to get the average annual production (2922kwh). Then multiply by 6km/kwh for the distance you could drive (17538km).
Article says 17000km/yr
So I think they’re overestimating by at least 40% since the whole car will never be completely in the sun.
2kW is a LOT of production. That’d be enough to run most homes. If it’s able to produce that for five hours a day they’d hit that 17000km figure no problem.
I went with 4kwh/kwp instead of the 5 hours you suggest since that’s more common around the world. Assuming you’re actually in the UK, I’d bet you’re more likely to see 3-3.5 in a country so famous for soggy weather.
Also, the more relevant point would be that the whole car can’t be in the sunlight all day, unless you park next to a giant mirror.
I’m a little thrown by “20% efficient” when paired with “allows 94% of solar energy to pass through.” Are they saying it captures 20% of 6%, i.e., 1.2% of the incident solar energy? Or are they saying 20% is captured and 94% passes through for a total energy recovery of 114%? (This latter is not physically possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s not what they’re saying.)
Basically I would rather they listed the power output of the solar system in Watts.
94% makes it to the solar capture, which is 20% efficient. So 20% of 94%. Bear in mind these are laboratory numbers, not real world. No one will ever get that in the real world.
So using their numbers of 11 square meters at 1000w/sqm, and 18.2% efficiency would mean 2002w nominal assuming the entire car is illuminated. Multiply that by 4*365 to get the average annual production (2922kwh). Then multiply by 6km/kwh for the distance you could drive (17538km).
Article says 17000km/yr
So I think they’re overestimating by at least 40% since the whole car will never be completely in the sun.
2kW is a LOT of production. That’d be enough to run most homes. If it’s able to produce that for five hours a day they’d hit that 17000km figure no problem.
2kW × 5h = 10kWh 6km/kWh × 10kWh = 60km 60km/day × 365days = 21900km
I went with 4kwh/kwp instead of the 5 hours you suggest since that’s more common around the world. Assuming you’re actually in the UK, I’d bet you’re more likely to see 3-3.5 in a country so famous for soggy weather.
Also, the more relevant point would be that the whole car can’t be in the sunlight all day, unless you park next to a giant mirror.