This Solar Charger Promises to Let You Charge Your EV Anywhere
The EV charger, which costs an estimated $3,000, can now be preordered for a $100 deposit.
The EV solar charger will fit any vehicle, the company says.
Compared with 2023, fewer people in the US are interested in purchasing electric vehicles, according to a recent Pew survey in which 29% of Americans said they'd consider purchasing an EV -- down 8% from 2022. But if fear of running out of battery is holding you back, there's sunny news: Solar-product company GoSun is now taking preorders for an EV solar charger that travels with the car.
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Interested drivers can reserve the charger now on GoSun's site for a $100 deposit. The full estimated price is $3,000. In an email, a spokesperson told CNET that the company has made more than $1.8 million in presales, with delivery expected in early 2025.
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GoSun says the charger delivers 1,200 watts of solar power, weighs 70 pounds and installs on a vehicle's roof rack. A video from the company shows a driver unfolding the charger's panels across the car and plugging the panels in to the vehicle's own charge port. It comes with a lock to deter theft.
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According to GoSun, two people can install the charger in 20 minutes.
The video also shows drivers using the charger to power laptops and portable saws. You know, as you do.
GoSun's site says that though the charger could garner an extra 30 miles a day, it averages 10-20 miles, and the company says mileage is dependent on vehicle and weather conditions. GoSun encourages drivers to check with their tax advisor, as buyers could be eligible for a 30% federal tax credit, plus local rebates and incentives.
The Pew survey may have indicated a drop in Americans interested in buying EVs, but electric vehicles aren't going away anytime soon. That same survey also showed that 63% of Americans want the US to be carbon neutral in the next 26 years. And energy generation in the US is expected to grow by 3% in 2024, led by solar power, according to a report from the Energy Information Administration. It's possible drivers will have their decisions made for them, as 12 US states are planning to ban the use of gas-powered cars.
And for many potential buyers, more charging options, including the GoSun portable charger, could help sway them toward a purchase. CNET cars review editor Antuan Goodwin predicted back in January that 2024 would be a pivotal year for EV chargers, with new innovations coming both on the road and at home.
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CNET has an electric-vehicle hub page where you can find out about the most affordable EVs, our top EV picks, and our choices for best home EV chargers. For more on solar power in general, check out our favorite solar panels for 2024, and delve into our solar panel buying guide for RVs and travel trailers.
- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
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- Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.