Many motorists have discussed that self driving travel should consider installing solar panels to solve the problem of power consumption. Let’s discuss this topic together.
Advantages
The advantages of installing solar panels come from the comparison with generators.
1. Simple installation and low initial investment.
Now the installation of solar panels is very simple. If there is a ready-made auxiliary battery, it can be done at a cost of several hundred yuan. Two 100w-150w single-crystal boards, ranging from 400 yuan to 600 yuan, plus a charging controller, just make a shelf by yourself.
2. Environmental protection and no pollution, protect the battery from power loss.
Where there is sunshine, there can be electricity, inexhaustible. The use of solar panels will not pollute and damage the environment, which is unmatched by generators. The solar panel can easily charge the standby battery and prolong the service life of the battery.
3. One-time operation is maintenance free, which saves time and effort.
Solar panels not only have low initial cost, but also are maintenance free and can be used reliably for a long time. The generator needs fuel to work. The fuel cost is not low. At the same time, it needs to add lubricating oil, and the maintenance cost is relatively high. Therefore, the use of solar panels is less worry and effort than that of generators.
4. It is more convenient to use.
Generators are divided into self-contained generators and on-board generators. Self-provided generator refueling is a problem, and gas stations do not necessarily refuel; The on-board generator is fixed on the chassis. When it is started, it will cause resonance and noise in the vehicle, so the solar panel is more convenient to use.
Disadvantages
1. There will be wind resistance and increase fuel consumption.
Solar panels occupy a large useful space and are generally placed on the top of the vehicle body. During driving, wind resistance will inevitably increase, resulting in increased fuel consumption. If the fuel consumption is increased by 1 liter per 100 kilometers, the solar panel can not generate 1 degree of electricity a day. It is not as good as using a generator to generate more electricity with 1 liter of oil, so it is not cost-effective.
2. The actual use is far from expected.
After installing solar panels, many car owners complain that the power generation is too low. The efficiency of solar panel power generation itself is not high, and it is difficult for us to meet the ideal use requirements, such as:
(1) If there is dust on the surface, it will also affect the cleaning effect of solar panels;
(2) The light-receiving surface of the solar panel must be 90 degrees direct with the sunlight to achieve the best effect, which is difficult to do on the car;
(3) In general, the lighting conditions that cannot reach the rated power of solar panels can be approached only at noon on the plateau.
3. It will cause great damage to the vehicle’s body and damage the paint.
When working, the temperature under the solar panel is generally high. If it is close to the vehicle body or has poor ventilation, the paint surface of the vehicle body will be burned over time. In particular, the flexible solar panel attached to the vehicle body will cause more obvious damage to the vehicle. If it is removed when not in use, the vehicle’s body will be scarred.
4. Low efficiency and low conversion rate;
The efficiency of solar panel is low, and the most practical polysilicon panel has a power of about 100W per square meter; At present, the conversion rate of the most efficient solar panel is only about 20%.
For example, the solar panel on the top of the car has a surface area of 2 square meters. According to the best power of 500W / square meter, the average sunshine time is 5 hours, and about 1 degree of electricity can be obtained every day. This is calculated according to the highest standard. Half of the actual irradiation area of solar panels is almost the same, so there is only 0.5 kwh of electricity every day.
5. Unstable and low price to price ratio.
The solar panel must be connected to the auxiliary battery for use. It is not advisable to directly connect the electrical appliances from the controller. Theoretically, as long as the voltage and current match, it can be directly connected to DC consumers.
But in fact, solar power generation is affected by the intensity of sunlight, ambient temperature and other factors, and the output current and voltage are unstable. The service life of electrical appliances will be seriously affected if they are not connected.
The advantages we mentioned above are without considering the auxiliary battery. The cost of solar cells is relatively expensive. The power per square meter is 180W, the weight is 4kg, and the price is 1200 yuan. The whole vehicle is 2 square meters, which needs 2400 yuan. At the same time, it is better to buy a lead-acid battery with low price.
How to choose?
1. Solar panels can only be used as auxiliary charging equipment, not as the main power supply mode. If other charging methods are implemented and the electricity is still insufficient, solar panels can be considered, which is also the way after there is no way.
2. The area on the roof of the RV is large, which can be considered. For ordinary bed cars, it’s good to have 2 square meters on the top, so you can give up directly.
3. Now there are intelligent telescopic solar panels on the market, which can receive solar energy in a large enough area. When not in use, the solar panels can be collected. When in use, the area can be remotely enlarged by more than twice, which makes parking more convenient.
4. The distinction between flexible thin film solar panels and conventional solar panels.
Conventional solar panels are heavy and require supports during installation, which is not easy to move. Flexible thin-film solar panels are 80% lighter than conventional solar panels, and can even be bent arbitrarily, which is convenient to carry and has a wide range of applications.
Conventional solar panels have high conversion efficiency, while flexible thin-film solar panels have relatively low conversion efficiency.
