Solar power and internet
Glamping in the Tesla: Musk surprises with a solar trailer including a Starlink station
On the occasion of the “IdeasExpo” in Hanover, Tesla put a hitherto unknown trailer on the exhibition grounds without much announcement.
© Screenshot twitter.com/tesla_adri / Falk Melzer
Completely surprisingly, Tesla presented a trailer with solar panels and a Starlink dish at the “IdeenExpo” in Hanover. Details about the wondrous vehicle are meanwhile sparse.
What to do if you stop with your Tesla in the middle of the sunny landscape but far from a charging station? Or to put it another way: what if you want to rest in a nice place with your Tesla for a while with all the amenities working, but the battery would suffer as a result? Tesla is currently providing a possible answer to these questions at the “IdeenExpo” in Hanover.
There, without much fanfare, a trailer from the manufacturer appeared, which had not previously been mentioned in this form. In the picture you can see a black single-axle vehicle, the structure of which contains extendable solar panels and a Starlink receiving station. In addition, it looks as if at least the upper panels are exposed while driving, i.e. able to soak up the sun.
Tesla trailer parked without an information board
Unfortunately, no technical data on the mysterious Tesla trailer can be found so far. It may simply be a feasibility study by the manufacturer that is not initially intended for sale. It is therefore not clear whether there is a battery in the trailer itself or whether the panels directly supply electricity to a Tesla.
The output of the trailer is also unknown – i.e. how quickly it could supply a Tesla with electricity. A user on Twitter tried to guess from the picture. He writes: “I can only guess, but depending on the size and number of panels, the output should be somewhere in the range of three to five kilowatts. Maybe a little more if you use state-of-the-art panels. Regardless, if parked for a period of time, could certainly add useful range to an EV.”
A Tesla Model 3 would not be charged quickly with it. With a capacity of 75 kilowatt hours and an average charging capacity of four kilowatts, the car would need around 19 hours for a full charge – mind you when the sun is shining. In addition, the vehicle would also have to “tow” the trailer, i.e. there would be additional consumption while driving. In testimonials there is talk of 40 percent less range with a team.
What would the Tesla trailer be good for?
So the question arises as to what purpose Tesla built such a trailer for – or could even plan to sell it. This “Range Extender” (range extender) actually only makes sense in stationary operation, for example on campsites or in the wilderness. This may seem strange for vehicles like the Model 3, Model S or Model Y, but such scenarios are quite realistic with a Model X or the announced Cybertruck. The Starlink dish also speaks for this purpose, in order to be able to take the Internet with you to remote locations.
The chance that you happen to have a trailer with you on a long journey when the battery suddenly runs out to continue the journey after a long sunbath seems very small.
That’s probably why the trailer is “only” part of a trade fair, without Tesla talking too much about it. It doesn’t seem to be more than a prototype at the moment.