Solar powered tonneau cover presents off-grid opportunities

Battery electric pickup trucks could gain up to 10 miles extra range per day from solar panelling embedded in the vehicle’s foldable tonneau cover.

This is the claim of Worksport, a Nasdaq-listed company based in the US that is launching the SOLIS Solar Cover this summer alongside its COR Battery System, an 11-outlet mobile power unit that can supply up to 2kW of power at 1.5kWh.

Said to be a world first, the SOLIS Solar Cover can provide charge for COR, generating up to 650W of power while still protecting the pickup truck’s bed. Both products are aimed initially at consumers who require off-grid, portable power on demand.

“The SOLIS cover connects first to our MPPT [maximum power point tracking] charge controller,” said Steven Rossi, CEO of Worksport. “From the MPPT it connects to the COR and individual batteries using firmware that we’ve designed that controls the charging of multiple batteries concurrently.”

Rossi added that SOLIS covers use monocrystalline panels that ‘utilise the latest technology flexible solar cells and bus bars.’ The panels - three per cover - are up to 25 per cent efficient while being robust enough to handle hail, wind, and road vibrations in excess of 80mph.

In future partnerships with EV manufacturers, the SOLIS Cover can provide additional electric driving range and charging capabilities.

To this end, Worksport signed an agreement in 2022 to produce prototypes of the SOLIS and a modified version of the COR energy storage system for Hyundai’s Santa Cruz pickup truck. 

Further prototypes are in development and will be tested on truck brands including Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.

“With OEM integration, we can connect via our MPPT - or OEM MPPT - charger into the battery electric storage system of the BEV trucks,” said Rossi. “Without OEM integration, we can use our COR battery system to provide Level 1 charging for vehicles; think of it as an ‘emergency gas tank’ of power to get you out of a difficult situation.”

He added that Worksport is working on ways of having Solis Level 1 charge EVs directly from the company’s MPPT - with no battery needed - but that will not be available until 2025.

As an aftermarket add-on accessory, the SOLIS and the COR are expected to provide ‘unparalleled utility’ for portable, mobile, solar energy away from the grid.

Rossi concluded: “Coming soon is our vision on the next generation of innovation by Worksport where we will integrate our folding solar arrays and battery generator systems into other applications like pop-up nano grids and mounting solutions for other types of vehicles, trailers, [and] houses.”