Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticBlue
Do the math. The square footage of a typical garage roof isn't going to charge jack squat. Like someone said, not much more than keeping the battery topped off. Plus it's going to be 10 times the cost of retail electricity. And unless you work nightshift, it's not going to do most people much good. Pairing this up with the sale of a car is nothing but marketing. If it's a good idea, then do it anyway, even if you don't have an electric car. Economically, it's not a good idea. Which would explain why solar companies are going bankrupt left and right, even with a shitload of government subsidies. Most people who think this kind of stuff is "cool" don't do the math. A coworker has struggled the last few months with a Nissan Leaf. With 120 volt charger in his garage and a 25 mile commute to a 12 hour shift, it was not enough time to completely charge. He could do 2 days in a row, but by the third day, it wasn't charged enough to make the round trip. Better now that he had a 240 volt charger installed, but he's still driving in the cold with no heater, bundled up like he's going skiing, and this summer he'll be sweating his ass off 'cause he won't be using the AC. This stuff just isn't ready for mass consumption yet.
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+1. This is just marketing. All this solar power stuff is available today but it is not efficient enough to pay for itself. I do not believe Solarwatt has the formula to make it different. What we will see as a result of this partnership is solar power system with BMW logos on it and perhaps contemporary looking panels. Expect it to be about twice as expensive vs a local solar power supplier/installer for the same power output.
bottom line: The same silly thing as buying winter tires from BMW, but some people still do
