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Solar panels in gasoline car

pmfman

We all know that an alternator in a car uses a significant portion of a car's HP, thus lots of its fuel efficiency. Thus in theory, if a large enough solar panel (lets say 150 watts) wouldn't this decrease the load on the alternator this increasing HP/fuel efficiency?

 

This is more or less to satisfy curiosity, I don't intend to try it.

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  • Hi Peter,

     

    A very good suggestion which has got me thinking early on a Sunday morning.

     

    I don't know what a typical alternator loads an engine by but it goes from a large amount (that you wish to reduce) just after starting on a cold winter's morning (rear heated window on, lights on, heater blower going) to a very small amount (summertime, after having been driven for a while). Unfortunately this is the issue you will likely face - there is probably little solar energy when the reduction in loading would be most beneficial. To get real benefit might mean replacing the heavy alternator with solar but that would make the car too restrictive in seasonal/geographic use; and supplementing the alternator with solar might have a very minimal benefit whilst increasing drag, weight and cost??? Just some thoughts - although they seem negative please don't stop exploring the idea.....ideas are always good...technology wouldn't have progressed otherwise !

     

    Another thought is that your idea is loosely similar to where an RV or underutilised car adds a solar panel to help charge the battery....they have some heavy loads or infrequent charging and adding 'free solar' energy into the battery helps keep it topped up and ready to go.

     

    Rod

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  • Hi Peter,

     

    A very good suggestion which has got me thinking early on a Sunday morning.

     

    I don't know what a typical alternator loads an engine by but it goes from a large amount (that you wish to reduce) just after starting on a cold winter's morning (rear heated window on, lights on, heater blower going) to a very small amount (summertime, after having been driven for a while). Unfortunately this is the issue you will likely face - there is probably little solar energy when the reduction in loading would be most beneficial. To get real benefit might mean replacing the heavy alternator with solar but that would make the car too restrictive in seasonal/geographic use; and supplementing the alternator with solar might have a very minimal benefit whilst increasing drag, weight and cost??? Just some thoughts - although they seem negative please don't stop exploring the idea.....ideas are always good...technology wouldn't have progressed otherwise !

     

    Another thought is that your idea is loosely similar to where an RV or underutilised car adds a solar panel to help charge the battery....they have some heavy loads or infrequent charging and adding 'free solar' energy into the battery helps keep it topped up and ready to go.

     

    Rod

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