US man finds genius way to charge his Tesla that can be used anywhere, doesn't need a charging port
- An American has added solar panels to his Tesla electric car
- The man says these enable him to charge the car anywhere he wants
- The system provides 30 miles of charge every eight hours
Published on May 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on May 07, 2025 at 2:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An American man has found an ingenious way to recharge his Tesla EV anywhere without a charging port using solar power.
The man decided to add an array of solar panels to the car, meaning it could keep itself topped up with energy even when on the move.
There are some disadvantages to this system, such as blocking out light from the rear window and the weight they will add.
But it’s a novel way to keep the car going, and maybe it will give Tesla an idea or two…
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How the American’s charging system works
On top of the EV are solar panels of up to 1,000 watts.
The system consists of two 500-watt panels on the front and rear of the car, which gives the owner 30 miles for every eight hours of charging.
A video on YouTube shows the man using the system and unfolding it.
The panels fold from the top of the car and down the front and back of the Tesla.
Watching it unfold, the obvious issue is that you can’t use the system when you are on the move.
It totally covers the front windshield and rear window of the EV.
However, that isn’t what the system is about.
Why the man gave his Tesla the solar panels
The biggest reason for adding them to the car is to create a portable charger.
If the owner needs to park up where there are no chargers, then he can simply unfold the panels and let the car charge itself.
One way to think about the system is that it is like a portable battery pack for our mobile phones.
While eight hours for 30 miles of charge is a long time, there are some bonuses to a system like this.
If more companies start to look at making them, they could begin to charge cars quickly.
Plus, if there are no chargers around or they are broken, a portable EV recharger might be someone’s salvation.
So long as there is plenty of daylight, it also means you don’t have to pay for a charger either.
It might have its problems, but it’s easy to see why this American added the panels to his car.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
