Does Anyone Know of An Company(ies) that Converts Classic Automobiles to Automobiles with Solar Panels Built into Their Skins?
I am not talking about the new VEs with solar panels built into their skins. I am not talking about classic automobiles converted into VEs that plug into a separate setup of solar panels.
I love ‘65 Ford Mustang, EVs & solar power & really like everything Aptera offers, EXCEPT no ‘65 Ford Mustang body. Does not even have to be the same HEAVY materials that made-up The ‘65 Ford Mustang’s body, not necessary to maintain the safety of the car.
I been looking, but I cannot find any Company(ies) that Converts Classic (‘65 Ford Mustang) Automobiles to Automobiles with Solar Panels Built into Their Skins.
Aptera makes a highly optimized vehicle. Most extant EVs, let alone converted classic cars, would not benefit appreciably from integrating current solar panel technology.
The solar panels on the Aptera provide 700 W, or 0.7 kW. For comparison, a level one charger (110v, single phase) provides 1-2.4 kW. For the average EV, a level one charger adds about 2-5 miles of driving for every hour charged depending on the vehicle.
The aerodynamics of the vehicle are really important in the charge rate to driving range conversion. As such, a converted classic car with the same battery as a similarly-sized EV would gain fewer driving miles at the same charge rate. Given that, the solar panels from the Aptera would make a negligible difference on a standard EV, let alone a converted classic car.
TL;DR: Solar panels do not contribute an appreciable amount of energy to the car, it only works for the Aptera due to its extremely optimized aerodynamics.