US man adds solar roof to his Tesla Model 3 to see if he can charge his car for free and it actually works
Published on Mar 19, 2026 at 8:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 20, 2026 at 9:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
EV owners are constantly trying to work out ways to increase the range of their vehicles, and this guy in the US did something unprecedented with his Tesla Model 3.
He wanted to see if he could charge his car for free and, amazingly, he sort of managed it.
He did so using solar power in what is likely to remain a one-off experiment.
That’s because while it was a technically successful experiment, there were a couple of snags.
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This is how this guy added a solar roof to his Tesla Model 3
A YouTuber who goes by The Tech of Tech tried saving some money while charging his Tesla Model 3.
Actually, more accurately, the YouTuber installed portable panels on his roof made by a company called ‘Bluetti’.
His idea was pretty straightforward: he wanted to see if it was possible to charge an EV while you’re on the go.
The portable 120W solar panels were connected to the EV via a 2kWh AC200P power station, and they were effective, but only technically.
In theory, his experiment worked, and he did manage to get ‘free’ miles using solar power.
In reality, this can’t be considered a good strategy.
Here’s why this one-off experiment is great for YouTube, but not so great for reality
The first problem is that even a small amount of shade will dramatically reduce charging capacity, which saw the YouTuber having to keep moving his Tesla for optimal charging.
Also, the charging only provided seven miles of range, and he had to keep repositioning the vehicle anyway.
Translated, it probably averaged out to only one mile of range per hour in good sunlight.
All in all, he probably saved himself 50 cents for the whole day, so this would be a great solution if you want to save nickels upon nickels.
Was the experiment technically successful? Yes.
Was it great content? Yes.
Is it a feasible and realistic way to charge your car? Probably not.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
