I added a solar panel to charge my $2,000 electric truck

[@misobrilliant]

Micah, I agree with others. You need to put two of those panels up. Looks like there is room. I guess it may be a waste if you're only using 250wh per day, but doubling the energy capture would be awesome.

[@That_Son_Ofa_Itch]

Have one panel for running and actually using the motors. And the other for charging a bank as a reserve battery. Double or triple your Milage charge

[@chriscowey7464]

You can also get higher wattage pannels. On amazon there is a 100watt one for £71.60. Looks like it would fit. Still an interesting video though. Not sure at 6ft5 I would fit in one of those which is a shame :p

[@ligametis]

@@That_Son_Ofa_Itch It is not enough to run motor

[@sc149]

@@That_Son_Ofa_Itch The reserve battery could then also be used to run power tools or recharge an electric bike or whatever, wherever you need.

[@stevelibby6852]

No reason to not use the hood to mount another. Aerodynamics not an issue. Seems like two could fit on roof with minimal overhang, also.

[@glockieme]

Great little project. Would be nice if the flexible panel could be used as a temporary sun screen / shade across the inside of the windscreen with a quick hook up to the charger. Keep the cab cooler and get free electrons!

[@micahsdad5388]

True, but angle to the sun would limit the energy produced. It's actually pretty amazing that small changes in the angle to the sun make huge impacts in power generation. Thanks for your comment. Best regards

[@aisrael13]

or velcro it to the hood, as the sun tracks it could switch over and grab more rays?

[@orenyehezqel8178]

Or it could be installed on the hood or the truck.

[@SinkLikeStone]

Cheaper and easier this way

[@joeabad5908]

Oh, why haven't I thought of that.. This is the best part of watching & reading comments on these videos.. Thanks for the comment..

[@ericrmaki]

Love the Chang Li and am considering buying one for my 10 acres in Arizona. The solar panel idea fits right into my thoughts. Thx for creating this video!

[@arisusanchez]

btw he was wrong, you can get this licensed for light vehicle travel so u cant go faster then 40 mph or go on freeways you may have to add additional safety features depending on your state ordinance tho

[@JeronimoStilton14]

@@arisusanchez wish I didn’t live in a city, basically impossible to get anywhere I’d want to go without highway travel

[@JSM-bb80u]

Did you buy one?

[@ratheonhudson3311]

This is something I've always dreamed of doing. A trickle charge setup on a fully electric vehicle. Well done

[@melvinbarnes197]

I'm a retired Electrician and I have wondered about putting solar on the roof, hood and trunk area of the EV. Just like your EV truck while the EV sets in the sun it is trickle charging the batteries. In the future the solar panels will get more efficient and will help extend the range of the EV's. As putting 2 on your truck, could use 2 slightly smaller panels but combined would give more output and not be too big for the roof. Well Done!

[@lazersloth3103]

Great little DIY. I wonder what adding a second panel to the top would do. It looks like you could squeeze a second one in on the top as well. Also, the flexible panel may work on the hood because it would have more support than the rack on top of the cab. Excellent job overall.

[@uHcoMHRk]

My thought exactly, a second small panel will do wonders for the amont of work this truck is doing around their property.

[@ml9867]

Having one on the roof angled back & one on the hood angled forward would help capture more of the sun no matter which way its pointing.

[@2manyhobbies76]

Flexible panel on the hood is a great solution. There isn't a worry about engine heat like with a traditional internal combustion engine. No-brainer. 100W on the hood and done. Plus then you could remove the one on the rack and regain storage space.

[@tsbrownie]

Any time I drill into an aluminum solar panel frame I always put a piece of heavy metal down to keep from drilling into the cells. A few seconds saves costs and time. In regards to the angle of the panel, you can roughly estimate the loss by angling a panel by taking the cosine of the angle times the panel output. If you just scratch out a few example on paper, you'll find that up to around 20 degrees (if I recall) there's very little loss.

[@micahsdad5388]

Yep - we backed the frame with a chunk of metal while we drilled it. Hard to see as it was square bar stock but look carefully at his thumb holding it in place. thanks. regards.

[@paulmfti]

Your channel is so good, you really make it easy for people to understand the basics of ebike setups and the theory behind solar energy. One of my favorites was the building your own battery…that will be a future project I am sure…

[@abruemmer77]

5:46: "Suspension, that could use some, uh, existence" really made my day!

[@oplkfdhgk]

I would have probably put second panel on top of the hood and then connect the panels in series assuming that your charge controller and battery can handle that. 🙂

[@stevenfaber3896]

His MPPT is only 40W, he's got a choke point on the throughput, he can't get it down from helios. This is a lesson in Buy Bigger than you need for solar...always. However, a good video and a nice setup - for florida.

[@danlee3055]

@@stevenfaber3896 do you mean 400W? I see 400W step-up on the meter

[@Raress96]

@@stevenfaber3896 The MPPT is 15A or 400W, so plenty.

[@LeDechaine]

Yup, Renogy 100W solar panels got smaller about 2 years ago. There's probably space for one 100W (or just another 50W plus a MC4 Y-splitter).

[@james10739]

Ya I was thinking that 50w looks small I'd definitely look for something as big as you can fit without looking ridiculous and something around 100w would be twice the power

[@Mitch_Feral]

It's impressive how much this small set up produces - my head instantly went to stacking two of those panels on top, and another, larger array on the hood. Electricity is cheap, but being able to largely opt out of the energy production loop seems ideal. Really nice video, and a good idea.

[@kyleheckman]

6:33 you should upgrade those cooling fans with Noctua Cooling fans; they are one of the best options for PC cooling so may help move more air inside your truck

[@valentine943]

probably should get the industrial versions because the silent ones are way way worse compared to the industrial ones

[@kennywheelus6857]

How much are those fans you speak of an where to order them

[@Wasmachineman]

@@kennywheelus6857 Any of the better PC part stores like NewEgg should have them.

[@veryanoynimouse]

The little Exploder is like the gift that keeps on giving and keeps on giving joy!

[@micahsdad5388]

It is huge fun. Puts a smile on the faces of anyone who sees it (and us every time we use it !!). Thanks

[@barrymaddox6567]

Hi from Devon uk,enjoyed your video,I saw a demonstration where a solar panels output was increased by a factor of 4 by simply attaching 2 hinged reflectors 1 either side to the solar panel, it was done at a uni by a prof,hope this info is useful Barry

[@sylvester4207]

You could definitely have fit 2 of them side by side to get 100w output

[@ChasB2010]

What a fun little truck! Adding the panel makes it even more useful. Great video.

[@tonygray6354]

I love this little truck , seems very handy for your parents property, an now with the solar set-up just makes it that little bit more awesome 👌

[@micahsdad5388]

Thanks for your comment. We love this truck around our property. Almost one year old and working perfectly. Now better with Micah doing these great mods. Best regards

[@喵队长]

@@micahsdad5388 So you are the Daddy in the previous video? Nice farm~And I‘m gald to know you enjoy your mini truck. Love from China~

[@savoryflan]

Looks like that flexible solar panel would fit perfectly on the hood of the truck. You may double your charging power by using both panels.

[@ravenouself4181]

But then he might have the sun glare into his eyes

[@andthesunsets]

The telegram guy is a scammer

[@craigpeel5983]

@@andthesunsets obviously, or atleast I hope it is obvious to everyone. It's almost like they have no choice but to come across as robotic and fake.

[@freddiemac327]

I'm looking forward to when you add shock absorbers to the truck.

[@readmycomment4696]

Extend the rollover cage/support which is between the cab and back loading area in a stright line to front bumper. You can put 4 to 6 panels and also keep the cabin cool.

[@Leonardokite]

Well for a truck that's just used on occasion, that is just the ticket. Great job Micah!

[@Huckhaven]

You should definitely try and upgrade the suspension. With solar panels on it now and any other concerns regarding vibrations, the benefits of plush and functioning suspension would be great!

[@micahsdad5388]

The bigger knobby tires are already on it and we have a set of softer coil springs that we are about to install. Should make a huge improvement in getting us a real suspension. Just much too stiff now.

[@joeabad5908]

Even partly covering your daily usage is awesome..

[@hatman4818]

You could put the flex panel over the hood, put them both to use. Generally, the rigid panels are better. They achieve better cooling, which makes them last longer. But, since you have both, the flex panel is perfect for going over curved car panels like hoods.

[@robertbrooks9275]

i'm hooked!!, i am watching your progress on this sweet little truck and it's fascinating ! you shouldn't need to justify why or where you bought the truck from to anyone, but the reasons you gave before were spot on. looking forward to the next chapter :)

[@Cooliemasteroz]

Here’s an idea, how about if you get a ladder rack on your front bumper and another ladder rack at the rear of your cargo area Boca same height as the bar behind the cab then make a metal frame with a hinge that is attached to the bar behind the cab then attach some ply wood and extra solar panels to the frame. Then you can do the same between the front ladder rack and the bar behind the cab. Now you have extra solar panels and you are carrying your own shade and if you need to load you vehicle with a front end loader or crane then all you have to do is unlock the board from the rear ladder rack and hinge it forward. If you want to spend a bit more time on careful design then you could have some kind of a swivel at the hinge on both boards so that they can be turned upside down for carrying long loads or just so that you have an elevated platform to work on.

[@johnpeterson8252]

Cool. I ordered one of the trucks, and still waiting on it. Can't wait to see your upgrade video

[@micahsdad5388]

Great. We are working on the one year update video that will include a bunch of mods and improvements including tires, suspension, elimination of the odd cluncking noise (was nothing major but was a real annoyance) and the proverbial, much muck more !! Good luck with your truck. Post some pics and have fun

[@douglasjackson9058]

Excited to see more about this truck as I am interested in buying one provided it is street legal here in Ohio for going and getting groceries 😁

[@tren133]

You would have to check your local laws and regulations regarding LSVs (low speed vehicles), which this truck would be classified as. Some localities (think retirement communities where people drive around in golf carts) will allow such LSVs to be driven on back roads, but not on highways or main thoroughfares.

[@douglasjackson9058]

@@tren133 thanks for responding 😊

[@bryduhbikeguy]

I see a couple others ask about putting the flex panel on the hood too.1/2 pvc tubing filled with expanding foam will keep the shakes away in a frame where ever you use it.?Tires look really meaty,and a great addition.

[@kieranomahony00]

This is really great and so simple. If only more vehicles were so easy to make into green machines

[@andreheise1170]

It's not that simple. I have an electric moped that consumes about 30 Wh per kilometer. On average. The consumption of electric vehicles also depends strongly on wind strength and wind direction. With the 250 Wh that its solar panel produces per day, I would get just 8.3 kilometers. That's 5.2 miles. I suspect that his electric truck is moved about 1 mile a day. That is not much. But when someone like me commutes 19.9 miles a day to work, solar panels are no longer enough. Then it comes down to batteries and those are wicked expensive. My large 1,344 Wh battery cost $861. A liter of gasoline is the equivalent of 8,500 Wh. So my battery is equivalent to a tank that holds 0.16 liters or 0.04 gallons of gasoline. The battery weighs 17.6 pounds. So to carry the same amount of energy as a gasoline vehicle, an electric vehicle must carry 64 times as much weight.

[@jeffreywong5112]

That hood looks good for a wide solar panel. Also makes the hood light weight.

[@jedics1]

I had a similar idea, where you buy one of those Wuling mini Ev's and buy a 400 ish watts domestic panel and put in on the roof, so simple and cheap. Imagine if we had forward thinking governments that made it practical to import them.

[@cwl5005]

Thats awesome! I saw a company that offers hood mounted flexibility solar panels for overland builds. I plan on doing the same for a similar setup on my vehicle as isn't not used daily for a free trickle charger for when not in use. Great video and I can't wait till the next one

[@dapperdingo]

Renogy.

[@JEMCochran49]

I always thought putting a bunch of solar panels on a shed roof and having them charge one of those big batteries would be convenient to be able to charge solar powered equipment.

[@richcisneros449]

My wife is thinking about getting a small truck, thinking this would be perfect! Thanks for the updates!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Good stuff! I was thinking a 100 watt panel would fit up there pretty decently - but as you mentioned later, the 50 watt might do the job for how much the truck is used.

[@lawrencedavidson6195]

Yes there seems to be enough space for a 100 watt panel.

[@andthesunsets]

The telegram guy is a scammer.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

wrobg gp 100 watts

[@FlyingPurplePizzas]

What an awesome little vehicle. Solar power just makes it even more so. Thanks for sharing this adventure with us.

[@kurtsandy3150]

It looked like the high-jacked wires and the normal charging wires go to the same location on the truck. It appears that the normal charging port is like a PC 110vAC port. That would make AC and solar panel DC going to the same location. Does the truck normal charging have a brick that converts your home AC to a DC source for the truck? If so, that DC source appears to be going into the truck, and back through your solar charge controller. If you installed a switch, off camera, then just ignore me. :-)

[@mrgw98]

He could set the switch off to work with the key to turn it on, but unless he did that off camera, it doesn't seem like he did that.

[@bernardolara9042]

Awesome project! and great idea for a float charger, if the mini truck gets used only a few days a week, solar power should be all it needs

[@micahsdad5388]

That's the way we see it. Time in the sun when used covers the energy expended. We put solar on my kayak a while back with the goal of achieving the same result. (see the KZbin video). Some days I come home with more power in the battery than when I put it in the water. Too cool !! Thanks for your comment

[@SilverScarletSpider]

My question is: wouldn’t it be better for the longevity, durability, and reliability of the truck to park it in the shade or a garage? Because the shade helps protect the paint, batteries, and metal from UV radiation, heat, and rust?

[@jamesthelouie]

Ideally a carport made of solar panels

[@micahsdad5388]

true, but we are using it out on the pasture a good deal. Sun is bright and plentiful as we work out there. Then to the garage when work is done. Still, leaving it out in the sun for short periods will not do much harm. It's a work truck. Not a trailer queen ! Thanks for your comment. Regards

[@SilverScarletSpider]

@@micahsdad5388 Thanks for the insightful reply!

[@daltonx6177]

The truck could also be left in a warehouse for eternity to keep it in mind condition, right ? But that's not really it's purpose, really.... 😉 And anyway, rust would get to it anyway, are kept in better conditions when using them regularly, that's a well known fact. 👍

[@gregsmith1116]

Awesome video Mica! I hope the panel helps your battery duration on the farm there! Cool!

[@mrgw98]

I can't fully tell from the video, but is there enough room on top to add a second panel if you rotate the first panel?

[@gadgetgasspoll2923]

Definitely

[@SoshiMECH]

The back tips up so they might be a fraction too long (if he doesn’t want to (re)move the spotlights) but he definitely could put a wider panel on the roof rack.

[@mrgw98]

@@SoshiMECH From what I can see in the video, it looks like it may clear the bed, but as I said hard to tell from the video.

[@johnstrand2247]

Good luck with that. I have a solar panel about that size to charge up my kayak fishfinder battery. It takes days and it is one of those tiny motorcycle type batteries.

[@brucesamuelson7541]

You have the room to put a 100 watt panel there would be twice as good!

[@jimhansen2403]

Love your truck, glad to see a DIY solar system to cut way back on having to plug it in, I think I would have put a Renogy 190w panel on top. Love it & would love to have one of your books .

[@Mandurath]

Looks like the flexible one would fit nicely on the hood.

[@ruskokollektiv5457]

lol, that line about the dremel is absolutely true and well crafted

[@SMGJohn]

Put a flexible one on the bonet, two on the top, that would make it a real good performer.

[@TheRoland19111]

That's it. He fell in love.

[@majobis]

Very nice and interesting what you have done to extend the electric range of the little truck. There are times when you are out there working away and it is nice to have that solar power putting power back into the batteries rather than guessing the battery that is left only to run back to plug it in for a few hours. good job on this little addition to the little pony workhorse.

[@mikee5654]

I have a few electric trikes, I built a rickshaw with a 100w 26x40 solar panel to do the same thing. Great video

[@ARTSPECK]

Looking forward to your next update. It will be very interesting to see the full outlay since new.

[@forestique2385]

Your videos have excellent production quality and editing. Makes them pleasant to watch. Thanks for the content

[@christopherh7315]

Nice, great electric truck/solar combo! Makes everything just that much more sustainable.

[@Narinjas]

I would go with flexible bed cover with a flexible solar panel on it + the front bonnet with a flexible solar panel to be slim and curvable for the fit , and a small rigid one on top ( maybe some flexible strip panels on the truck bed sides too) and you have a complete setup that could also give you enough energy to run AC and infotainment while you drive (and let the main battery power only the steering and engines)

[@oscarapple1365]

Good stuff! Try upgrading to a 100w panel in the future. With a 50w panel and using an MPPT controller you'll be lucky to get 35watts. Solar panels aren't 100 percent efficient, but they're awesome. You might find the shade will create an added benefit a larger panel as well.

[@luizdasilva007]

Love the panel trickle charge idea!

[@solarfun2388]

That is a cool truck and nice 80s haircut haven't seen that in a while

[@wheatpuff]

This little thing has some amazing utility, and this is a really useful mod for a farm ev. I like how the bed tips.

[@micahsdad5388]

That dump bed has been SO useful on our acreage. Best regards

[@sovereignpat1800]

This is sooo cool! Can't wait to see the next update on this truck!

[@a-aron2276]

That thing is just class, kinda cool how mid summer it's enough to completely offset the usage of the truck with a 50w panel.

[@lanlinzhang77]

The new tires look great!

[@henriklarsson6870]

I love these videos you have made about the Truck. Keep them comming.

[@GamingHistorySource]

You could mount the flexible panel on the hood & glue it down with something that won't damage the paint if you need to remove it. the flexibility will allow it to conform to your Trucks hood. Just an idea. Enjoyed the video ! :)

[@chettiarsirusraj9501]

I'll say the second charging port connector that you don't use is likely a charging port suited for the region and country it is from where that port might be the most used and easily available in the area so if you want to find out more about try looking for where the truck is from or meant to be sold at which market that could help you find out more about it. The charging connector may have been added to make it more accessible to charging in major parts of the country where the plug you use for charging is the most common and easy to find.

[@treennumbers]

Been following for a while, love that silly little truck. Probably the right choice to use the rigid panel, since the floppier one would make all kinds of noise going over rough ground.

[@jonathantatler]

Cable ties work very well! Easily changed too.

[@charlieredeemed]

I've wanted this thing since I first saw it, a year ago 👍👍 It's even better, now

[@tcg2ki]

I do enjoy your videos please keep them coming.

[@matthewwalker7024]

I'm digging the mini truck series. Thanks for posting.

[@robbhorton1735]

I have really been enjoying this series. Lots of fun.

[@micahsdad5388]

HUGE FUN FOR US TOO !! Thanks for your comment. More updates to come with the one year review. Best regards

[@StuffTested]

So it's essentially like the solar Garmin watch style. It just extends the time of how often you have to charge it. Like a normal Garmin watch let's say is 6 days, but with the solar option it's 20 days. I hope solar panels get much more efficient over coming years.

[@ramonpadilla2607]

Great video, the PVC array looks nice, a little black silicone and you can trick people into thinking is welded metal.

[@micahsdad5388]

You are right. We could make it look like a 'stack of dimes' around the perimeter !! Best regards

[@JohnMcLaughlinPlus]

That is pretty fun project -- I really like the idea of a small truck like this for projects 'around the farm' that you could (possibly?) keep constantly charged under normal usage...

[@vetham100]

I enjoyed the video, i have an ebike conversion and the components are proprietary and its difficult to sort out the wiring. A solar panel would help on short rides around town. Thanks for sharing with us your experiences. Have a great day.

[@mystisith3984]

This is awesome. I find hilarious that the whole thing costs less than many "fancy" electric bikes. For us Europeans we don't drive much on average (37 kms a day) and your configuration could be good enough for 80% of the population.

[@sharonbraselton4302]

22 mimioe range

[@gordonwilloughby8793]

I can think of a couple of options in case you use the truck enough so the solar don't keep up or on cloudy days. You have room for a larger solar panel. You could add the flexible solar panels to the hood too. The panel you are using does well so probably a slightly larger panel would be as much as you would need.

[@andthesunsets]

The telegram guy is a scammer

[@pesoen]

an idea for the flexible panel, would be to mount it onto the hood of the vehicle somehow. it's not in the way, i think it might reflect a bit less sun(solar panel seemed matte) and would make it able to use more power to charge.

[@tooshort5158]

Can't wait for the update on the suspension.

[@SkReet94]

Wow, I don't understand why most current electric cars don't have a sunroof. Nice video!!

[@h8GW]

Most highway-legal vehicles use so much energy while driving (maybe a few dozen KWh equivalent for a typical commute) that the area you can cover a typical car with solar panels will barely make a dent in their typical range. However, if you're interested in solar-powered cars, check out the Aptera. It's so efficient when driving that solely powering it with solar panels starts to become practically feasible.

[@tugsn.mccowan1634]

Very cool in a nerdy sort of way. Liked the idea.

[@Chris_WG]

Love your videos man! Really fun to watch. Cheers from across the country in California!

[@redneckindustries]

Tell your dad to hang up the Sparkplug memorabilia and show us a ShopTour. Your Chinese MiniTruck episodes are Amazing!

[@micahsdad5388]

My man cave garage is nearing completion. We will try to do a short tour a some point. regards

[@robertkribs9513]

fun project Micah!

[@vansquishy2289]

Saw this video show up on my feed, haven't seen your vids in a while! Love what you've done with that truck!

[@markholloway9638]

Awesome project! Enjoyed your video!

[@swyork]

I love your truck. I love the solar panel idea. About the rust, why not use some paint to touch up the rusting area? Truck liner?

[@jwalster9412]

That truck looks like a ibishu pigeon with a proper 4 wheel setup.

[@livewire9996]

Fantastic! I seriously hope to afford this--really interested in the battery and wattage however

[@quintinovieira]

Amazing transformation. Greetings from Portugal.

[@XKloosyvv]

Can't wait to see the long term results from this

[@adddude7524]

Excactly the reason I'm excited for that Sono Motors car. You're never going to fully rely on the sun but you have to plug it in much less often.

[@speckledjim_]

Your basically replacing what your using. In most cases that is absolutely ideal. Nice one 👍

[@micahsdad5388]

exactly !!

[@joshusmcbeth1376]

You should use a "Western Union" or "lineman's" splice on soldered power connections to ensure the splice does not fail suddenly at the melting temperature of the solder.

[@jonanderson5137]

In addition to looming and strain relief.

[@chrissinclair8705]

You could easily put a larger panel on top of the truck. I know this was sort of an experiment but a 100w panel or 180w panel if you don't mind a little overhang on the sides or back could easily be done. For my ebike I use a MPT-7210A programmable DC to DC boost converter with my solar panels. With my 120w foldable much abused panel(could be only 100w rated at this point) I get about 1.2Ah in good sun, if I pop my 60w panel on as well in parallel I get about 1.75aH easily enough to charge it from flat up to it's 15aH capacity in a day. What I like about the MPT-7210A is it has a current counter and you can program your batteries capacity in it and it has a little battery indicator in there which shows you how much you've put in. It also stores up to 20 presets for different charging options in case you have extra panels kicking around if you want to charge it that way.

[@ghostlee900]

I suppose you could stick the flexible pannel to the bonnet / hood . Hiding the wires would be difficult tho. Or even having a large pannel acting like a truck bed cover on hinges and thoses hydraulic rams to lift it up and down to accesses the bed. Think that would like sweet

[@rosco4659]

Cool little truck, I wonder if you could add the flexible panel to the hood.

[@kiriakosmelissinas81]

I appreciate your videos! Thanks for the watch and your time.

[@lolroflpmsl]

All electric cars should have solar panels built in for trickle charging on the roof, hood (bonnet), and trunk lid (boot). You could get a few miles/h charging in good sun.

[@Jehty_]

Just not worth it. Makes much more sense to put the solar panels on the roof of your house instead. But if you have money to burn, why not 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@Jeffamazon251]

i hope the Chinese manufacturer of that little thing can one day see this video and reach out to you and do a collab or something.

[@alsadacharlton762]

if memory serves me correct i think those trucks are 48volts so you should have put 2 24v panels in series for better performance.and thankyou for your reviews they are better than others i have seen on the same products.