Most of the currently available, full size, single crystal Si cell PV panels are rated at around 310 Watts, so probably one up to five of those (as many as you are prepared to buy and place), each fitted with a micro-inverter and parallel wired to a DIY smart charger like you can get from OpenEVSE. That would get you up to about as many watts as can be managed L1 (1600 watts as I understand it) and keep it “handyman“ simple. You could start with fewer panels and add more as you are inclined.
”It would be extremely difficult to do both off grid and no batteries. The minimum charge rate of an EV is 6A and current is adjusted in 1A increments or over 200 watts per step. The EV has 5 seconds to respond to a current change. It would not be possible to perfectly match the solar output and quickly respond as output changes.” This explains the issue I didn’t understand with direct pv input. This is a bummer. I should be able to get more off grid charge easier that that. Looks like it comes down to the ev port allowing the dynamic input. It is obviously possible as the onboard solar is clearly not operating under those restrictions.
@John Paulus Good to hear that OpenEVSE was so forthcoming about that. Details that I neglected. Oceandragon probably has the better notion of adding the “solar generator“ in between mostly just to smooth out the power supply enough. You wouldn’t need the micro-inverters then either.
Peter. Thanks for your response. I am in central Virginia. I have a 50 mile round trip commute, mostly highway. Charger would be installed at my work place where I am typically parked during the day. Would get hood panels on the Aptera but likely not rear hatch panels.
Very cool. I will check this out. Thank u.
Most of the currently available, full size, single crystal Si cell PV panels are rated at around 310 Watts, so probably one up to five of those (as many as you are prepared to buy and place), each fitted with a micro-inverter and parallel wired to a DIY smart charger like you can get from OpenEVSE. That would get you up to about as many watts as can be managed L1 (1600 watts as I understand it) and keep it “handyman“ simple. You could start with fewer panels and add more as you are inclined.
where do you live and how far do you expect to drive the aptera each year, then I could give you a ballpark size and how much it would provide