A set of Sunflare Solar flexible panels can add about 15 miles (24 kilometres) per day to an electric pickup truck's range using only solar power.
The system costs $10,000 and includes a 5kW inverter needed to transfer power to the on-board battery. The panels are designed specifically for the Cybertruck and integrate with its unpainted stainless steel structure.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk considered integrating solar panels into the Model 3 back in 2017, but the technology wasn't efficient enough at the time. Solar cell performance has improved significantly in recent years, and Tesla has gained a lot of experience in the industry. Musk also promised a rooftop solar panel option for the Cybertruck, but the company has yet to implement it.
The Sunflare Solar solution was the first step towards turning the pickup truck into a partially self-sufficient electric car, especially in regions with a lot of sunny days. However, it is only an auxiliary tool that does not replace the main charging.
Source: Electrek
