Rooftop EV solar box expands to 6 times its size, charging vehicle off-grid

From solar-powered hot dog cookers to fully-fledged solar camper trailers and tiny homes, GoSun has developed a knack for creating unique products that put the power of the sun to work here on Earth. Its latest product promises to be its most revolutionary yet, providing an off-grid way to charge electric vehicles both on the go and when parked. By simply turning on and off the solar panels on the vehicle’s windshield, hood, and trunk, the system multiplies charging power by six times, providing a noticeable in-field range increase without ever having to look for a charging station or electrical outlet.

GoSun’s marketing team didn’t put much thought into naming the EV Solar Charger, but thankfully the design team did some extra work. The 70-lb (32-kg) 5-inch (12.7-cm) tall box sits atop the vehicle like a particularly thin roof cargo box, and its own roof is covered in 200-watt solar panels.

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At this point, GoSun's charging box offers about the same capacity as the solar panel array that might come standard in an RV—enough to charge a recreational battery while parked, but not enough to put a dent in a large lithium traction battery.

But no problem—while the 200W panel spread provides a nominal charge while driving, the real magic comes when parked. The driver opens the box and turns on an array of solar panels at the front and rear of the vehicle, and when the box is secured back in the closed position, the total usable output increases to 1,200 watts. Plug the 120V output cable directly into the vehicle’s charging port and it’ll provide Level 1 charging directly from the sun. GoSun says the panels are designed to stay deployed even in winds up to 30 mph (50 km/h), while the closed box is built for highway speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h).

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The EV Solar Charger box won’t exactly replace an ultra-fast charger, and GoSun estimates that the daily range gain is up to 30 miles (50 km) in the right conditions. More likely, you’ll get about 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) on an average day. Still, those miles are only added when the car is parked at work or home and not otherwise charging, so it’s definitely better than no miles at all. If your daily commute is within that 10 to 30-mile range, you could meet your daily charging needs from solar power alone.

While the GoSun EV charger isn’t exactly the cleanest looking solution with its loose panels hanging everywhere, it does provide a secondary benefit by shading the windshield and rear window from the sun, helping to keep the interior cooler on hot days. This can further increase efficiency by reducing the driver’s reliance on air conditioning.

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Of course, while real solar energy is free and available, an EV Solar Charger system will cost a pretty penny up front. It’s currently available for pre-order, and GoSun estimates the retail price to be $2,999. It says the system could potentially qualify for a 30% U.S. tax credit through the federal government’s Residential Clean Energy Credit, which covers add-ons like home solar and battery storage systems. In that case, you’ll need to integrate it into your home energy system; you can find out more from the IRS.

GoSun plans to start shipping pre-assembled EV Solar Chargers to buyers in 2025, so the system requires a quick 20-minute installation process for end users. The company says the system needs to remain on full time but can be easily removed when needed.

If you're wondering what life would be like using a car roof solar blanket, check out our short introductory video below.

Source: GoSun