The Tesla Cybertruck is making waves, but the Ford F-150 Lightning is the one to beat as it racked up 24,165 sales last year with 11,905 of them coming in the fourth quarter alone.
Given those numbers, it’s not surprising to learn that WorkSport is developing a version of its Solis solar cover for the F-150 Lightning. While the product is still in “initial planning phases,” the solar cover will initially be aimed at harnessing the sun’s energy for off-grid use. Once that system is “developed and optimized,” the company will then explore the feasibility of using the tonneau cover to charge the truck itself.
That’s a ways off, but WorkSport believes the cover could “contribute meaningfully to the vehicle’s range.” However, it’s best to keep your expectations in check as previous calculations suggested owners may only get up to 10 miles (16 km) of range per day. That doesn’t sound too impressive, but it’s important to remember the average American travels less than 40 miles (64 km) per day.
Putting that aside, the initial application is focused on charging a COR battery and this idea effectively mimics a solar generator. However, instead of a traditional solar panel, the setup would use a solar tonneau cover.
More: Charging Electric Pickups Could Be As Easy As Parking In The Sun Thanks To A Solar Tonneau Cover
WorkSport was tight-lipped about when the system would be launched, but said “While preparations for the Solis solar cover are nearing completion, its launch is planned to strategically align with the finalization of the COR battery to ensure a seamless introduction to the market.” The latter is “currently undergoing rigorous testing and is on track to proceed to the manufacturing stage for its Alpha Launch.”
