I think you're right on that one. A car's worth of PV area wouldn't be enough to power a normal AC system, but like you say, just keeping the inside from getting scorching while parked would be a nice feature.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Solar panels won't be able to power much more than a circulating fan. An A/C compressor? No way.

But the panel can charge the battery and it can kick on the ac from time to time and cool it down some.

Like a fridge.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

A car A/C is about the same as a 2 Ton (24kBTU) house unit. Those typically require >2kW. Covering 2 sq/ft on the roof of the car might be able to run that for 2 mins after 8 hours of charging. Maybe.

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John Robbins
'05 E320 CDI - 240k
'87 300TD - 318k

I think the Mazda 929 (1993, maybe?) used PV cells located in the sunroof to operate a ventilation fan when the car was parked.

You would need the panels from Skylab to power the AC in the car...

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Actually, back in 2003, the 211 E-Class was available with optional solar panels integrated into the panoramic roof. The electricity generated was used to run the blower motor at low speed, at high ambient temperatures, while the car was parked. The idea was to keep the interior from getting too hot.

People like you scare me on the roads. I don't know why some people easily get offended by what someone else is driving. Maybe some anger management classes would be in order. Seriously.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Well, some Priuii owners may strut while sitting down, but no need to have negative feelings towards them. In my case, I live in a hilly four-season community, so any ambivalence I may feel towards Priuii in spring, summer and fall is abated every winter when I see them tyring to climb icy hills on those econo tires with their rock-hard rubber compound. I try my damnedest to suppress that citric little smile of mine as I AWD my way by.

I blow my nose at you, so-called Prius Owner!

Hopefully the exudate is also green.

That's funny because I do the same thing as I drive past the crashed SUV's and pickups almost every time it snows here. Seriously it seems that the majority of snow/ice-related accidents involve these so-called 4-wheel drives.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Usually what I see are spinouts and rollovers where the driver is standing next to his or her wreck chatting on the cell phone trying to get help. And I don't really smile. I just think what a retard.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

It seems like a nice idea if it's just intended to power something like A/C or other accessories... Even if it doesn't fully power the A/C compressor, something is better than nothing.

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Sal Collaziano
cadillac magazine | hyundai genesis

Sal,

May I congratulate you on your execllent taste in SUVs.