As it currently stands, the Model Y owner’s first prototype is a mix of wood and carbon fiber tubes, adding 11 inches to the car’s height when folded up. Somid3 said that the next iteration will be entirely carbon fiber, measuring only six inches in height. It’s worth noting that somid3 is based in Los Angeles, where sunlight is in abundance, so the solar panel’s performance could differ in other regions. Nevertheless, it’s still an impressive feat that fits in a single parking space even when expanded.
The Model Y owner launched DartSolar, a website dedicated to their Tesla solar panel project. Whether you’d like them to build it for you, or you just want the blueprints for your own 3D-printing project, DartSolar aims to make solar panels on electric vehicles a standard. Although somid3 strapped it to the top of a Model Y, the first prototype isn’t limited to just the electric SUV or even only Teslas. The solar panels were designed to fit on the roof of any EV, potentially pushing forward the agenda for even cleaner and more sustainable energy for EVs.
