Gary Zhou 
Tesla Cybertruck is set to be the first solar-powered Tesla vehicle. A recent design video of deployable solar from the electric pickup truck may look ridiculous but it may not be too far-fetched.
Elon Musk shocked everyone after the launch of the Cybertruck when he said Tesla’s new electric pickup truck will have a solar roof option which will add 15 miles of range per day.
This was surprising as many car manufacturers, including Tesla, had previously been considering the application of solar to electric vehicles, but most of the projects haven’t come to production or provided any significant power.
Musk said he urged his Tesla engineers to look at adding solar cells on Model 3 in 2017, but they decided it wasn’t worth it then.
Solar cell performance has since increased, and by designing the solar roof, Tesla has gained expertise in embedding solar cells in its own right.
3D artist Slav Popovski wanted to make what a Tesla Cybertruck would look like with deployable solar:
While the idea might sound crazy, it might not necessarily be that far-fetched based on Musk’s previous statements.
After announcing that the Cybertruck would be given a solar option, the CEO also indicated that deployable solar wings could be added for even greater solar power.
Musk had previously addressed the concept for electric vehicles to have a “deployable solar shield like a retractable hard top.”
Tesla plans to launch the Cybertruck onto the market in late 2021.
Reported by Electrek.
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