Good alternative to PHEV Kit?

[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Id do what Mike DB2K did with the fixed solar panels if they didn't weigh so much and sit them on the hatch of my car with a support.

That might not be a bad idea. You really can't see much out the back anyway.

There is this company I found lastnight that's making electric generators that bolt on to your rims as a EV assist conversion for non hybrid vehicles. I wonder what the cost is. I'll see if i can find the link again.

[firsthonda]

What about something like this to place either outside on inside up against the hatch?

Solar Panel Kit - Save on this 45 Watt Solar Panel Kit

It's only 45 watts but sitting in the sun all day has got to help the PHEV Battery.

[Cobb]

Thats on my wish list. I am afraid its 3 12 volt panels hooked in parallel to the charge controller. I need an even number of 12 volt panels for 48 volts.


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[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Thats on my wish list. I am afraid its 3 12 volt panels hooked in parallel to the charge controller. I need an even number of 12 volt panels for 48 volts.


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You can't charge the same way you do from the household plug? Could you do it with an AC invereter to splice into the AC wall plug somehow?

I found a Youtube video showing the solar kit. Looks nice for the money.

SOLAR PANELS Photovoltaic, Harbor Freight, DIY INSTALLATION Training Video Solar Electric - YouTube!

[Cobb]

I am not following you.

My idea was to wire up the solar cells for 48 volts to directly charge the lifepo4 pack of the Enginer kit. Those cells do not look too big, but I would need 4.

The kit you link to is a 12 volt kit with charge controller and 2 lamps. It needs a battery and inverter.

You "could" charge from that, however 45 watts an hour is what it makes in ideal conditions, the Enginer kit needs 980 watts an hour for 2 hours to charge.

So you would only be able to use that maybe twice a week and you need almost 3 kilowatt of storage, 4 deep cycle batteries and a 2000 watt inverter.

Even if you did that, there is a lot of waste going from 12 to 120 then to 48 volts.


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[firsthonda]

Originally Posted by Cobb

I am not following you.

My idea was to wire up the solar cells for 48 volts to directly charge the lifepo4 pack of the Enginer kit. Those cells do not look too big, but I would need 4.

The kit you link to is a 12 volt kit with charge controller and 2 lamps. It needs a battery and inverter.

You "could" charge from that, however 45 watts an hour is what it makes in ideal conditions, the Enginer kit needs 980 watts an hour for 2 hours to charge.

So you would only be able to use that maybe twice a week and you need almost 3 kilowatt of storage, 4 deep cycle batteries and a 2000 watt inverter.

Even if you did that, there is a lot of waste going from 12 to 120 then to 48 volts.


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I see what you mean. Maybe there is a kit roughly the same dimension with 4 panels? I was looking at that one because it seems like a good fit for the hatch window. From what you're telling me, you need at least 250-300 watts to maybe get half a charge all day.

[Cobb]

I think cost wise and efficiency I would be better off investing in another pack and charger to plug in at work under my desk and on the fly at stores. Maybe gut a jump starter thing and put the cells, bms and charger in one of those and plug it in as I go.

I could use that for future projects as needed or even future EV ones.

Maybe I can find a fire sale where someone decided against their solar install or purchase?

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[firsthonda]

Maybe a solar powered home charging station makes more sense than attaching panels to your vehicle? I was thinking about doing that. A few solar panels, deep cycle batteries; hooked to a inverter should be plenty to charge the PHEV kit. That and plug in on the go when you get a chance and the electricity won't cost you a dime.