I'll look at the solar panel in my wife's trunk. It is about the size of a news paper folder over on the newstand. It has a cord that plugs into the cigarette lighter. They recommend plugging it and placing it on the dashboard if you do not intend to use the car for several weeks. I wonder if that means that VW expects the battery to discharge at a more rapid rate than most vehicles.
A solar panel was standard equipment of the 2005 Jetta. The dealer didn't think so until i showed them the manual. I wonder if they need to be shown every time? On Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 11:56 PM, betty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > And what about Windows users who are perpetually in the dark? > > > >> >The price for those panels is lower > >> >than some of the new cable/DSL/ADSL modems. Searched online and found > >> >one that retails at $44.99, and another for $37.95; will be much less if > >> >bundled with FIOS service boxes. > > > > Betty: Is this packaged in a way that will allow a DIY installation? > > First time I saw photovoltaic trickle chargers for 12V batteries was at > a Volkswagen dealer. They had the chargers plugged into many of the cars > on their lot, with the PV panel on the dashboard. I'd guess they might > have some kind of deal from the German government where homeowners and > businesses are given incentives to install PV panels on their buildings > to generate electricity. These panels are integrated roofing, like tiles > [search SunSlate], not big panels bolted to the roof, as were used 20 > years ago. Initially the equivalent cost of energy from PV was around 40 > cents per kw hour while power companies charged 10 cents/kwh. Government > paid the difference to the customers. Cost has gone down to 30 cents, 20 > cents, and is expected to reach parity within 5 years. After that the > electricity from PV panels will be free. > > I didn't look at the brand that they were using, but I could ask the VW > dealer, or you could ask a dealer that uses them. I got the prices by > using a search engine. These chargers plug into the cigarette lighter in > a car. The laptop chargers were well over $200 when I looked for one > several years ago and are still expensive, but chargers for cell phones > and iPods can be found for under $40. > > And, yes, the battery chargers are easy to set up. Some models are even > sold in the online NPR shop and many other places on the Internets. > > > > > ************************************************************************* > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > ************************************************************************* > -- John Duncan Yoyo -------------------------------o) ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
