Are solar cells used to help charge the batteries?

[UnkyMurch]

The videos show the solar cells being used to power interior exhaust fans to help cool the vehicle while parked as well as control the air flow while in motion. Are these solar cells also used to help charge the batteries?

[c0mp13x]

The solar cells do provide a small trickle charge to the batteries in addition to running the climate control fan(s) when parked. But the thread linked below, estimates that the charge to the battery is very small. Then again, any "free" gain to batteries is better than them just sitting there and discharging.

Hopefully with all the advances in "nano" solar technology and the possible implementation in future Apteras, we'll see an increase in the amount of solar charge to the batteries.

Solar Panel Thread (http://www.apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=75)


http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Vehicles/SunRacer.jpg

:D