Oregon man puts his own DIY solar panels on his Tesla Model X and shares how much extra range it gives him

Getting some extra range on your EV is never a bad thing, but an Oregon man took it one step further by installing DIY solar panels on his Tesla Model X.

YouTuber Everyday Sandro documented his experience installing flexible solar panels onto his Model X, affectionally named ‘Beluga’.

The content creator lives in his car, so having extra power is even more important.

Of course, the big questions are: does it work, and is it actually worth it?

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Drilling holes in the Tesla Model X is a path of no return

Sandro is currently on an epic expedition, attempting to drive from Canada all the way to Argentina.

Given how long he will be on the road, he decided to install solar panels on his car earlier this year, to ensure he has power even in remote areas.

The project took place in sunny Ventura, California, where Sandro teams up with a friend to tackle what might be one of the most nerve-wracking DIY mods you can do to a Tesla: putting holes in it.

The solar setup consists of two ultra-durable, flexible panels rated at roughly 150 watts each, mounted directly to the hood using industrial-grade 3M adhesive.

They’re designed to be tough enough to step on and resistant to rocks and debris, which is essential for Sandro’s off-road adventures.

Getting the panels positioned was a slow, careful process because once the adhesive sticks, there’s no undo button.

That tension peaks when the drill finally came out, turning Beluga from a pristine EV into a permanent science experiment.

Holes were drilled for junction boxes, wiring is routed through the frunk and firewall, and everything was soldered by hand.

And in case you’re wondering, the solar panels don’t charge the Tesla’s main battery directly.

Instead, they feed an EcoFlow power station inside the car, which runs Sandro’s camper setup, including an induction cooktop, kettle, and other electronics.

The DIY solar panels makes him more independent on the road

In real-world testing, the panels consistently produce between 110 and 135 watts in good sunlight.

That’s slightly better than what he gets from the car’s 12V DC outlet while driving, and enough to fully charge his EcoFlow unit in about 10 hours.

In a separate video, he tested the new solar panels, and revealed that his DIY setup added around six miles of range to his Tesla Model X.

While the system doesn’t magically give him ‘infinite range’, it does reduce reliance on plugging in for daily living power.

For someone traveling long distances and camping off-grid, that independence is the real win.

Plus, the hood-mounted panels give the Model X a tougher, expedition-ready look, which is quite fitting for what Sandro is up to.

If you’re curious about the rest of his adventures, you can check out his YouTube channel here.

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