The solar roof is a feature that Tesla said would be available on the Cybertruck, but with the electric pickup truck closer to production, it's unclear if it's still on the cards.
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Tesla, like many other automakers, had previously explored adding a solar roof to electric vehicles, but never pulled the trigger on the feature.
Other automakers offer it as an option, but rooftop solar systems either only power auxiliary functions and not the actual powertrain battery, or only provide a few kilometers of range per day.
In 2017, CEO Elon Musk said he pushed Tesla engineers to consider integrating solar cells into the Model 3, but they concluded it wasn't worth the effort at the time.
The efficiency of solar cells has since improved, and Tesla developed its own expertise in integrating solar cells through the development of rooftop solar panels.
This led to a surprise announcement.
After the launch of the Cybertruck, Musk surprised many when he said that Tesla's new electric pickup truck would feature a solar roof option that would add 15 miles of range per day.
A few years later, Tesla filed a patent showing that solar cells would be integrated into the interior of the retractable tonneau cover.
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However, years later and now, just weeks before production, it's unclear whether the Cybertruck will be equipped with a solar roof or even have it as an option.
This feature has not been spotted in the latest Cybertruck candidate versions. It is possible that it is present in some prototypes and the solar cells are so well integrated that they have not been spotted, but it is unlikely.
Since everything is built into the chassis' tonneau, it's possible that Tesla will fit the required inverter and wiring into all Cybertrucks and later offer the solar tonneau cover as an option that can be retrofitted.
I don't think it's a problem. It's not a make or break feature for the Cybertruck, but it would be nice to have.
The idea that you could go to the airport and leave your car in an open parking lot for a week is very nice and at least it wouldn't lose its capacity and probably save some for the return home after the holidays. Free.
But we wouldn't be surprised if the cost of the option was between $3,000 and $5,000, which would be a tough sell for most buyers.
Read also: Tesla Cybertruck: It presents its rear-wheel drive system
source of information: electrek.co
